Virginia Beach Named StormReady for Ability to Respond to Severe Weather

Virginia Beach has been named a StormReady Community by the National Weather Service. The designation indicates that the City is equipped to save lives and protect property before, during and after a weather event.  

To earn the renewed designation, the City underwent a comprehensive review of its programs and activities for severe weather. The previous designation was issued for October 2021 to October 2025. This renewal is valid through 2029.  

“This StormReady designation reinforces Virginia Beach’s ongoing investment in maintaining a world-class emergency management program that prioritizes the safety of our residents, businesses, visitors, and workforce,” said Dave Topczynski, director of the City of Virginia Beach Emergency Management. 

The National Weather Service reviewed multiple factors, including: 

• New, proactive approaches to improve hazardous weather operations 
• Ability to send 24-hour public alerts and warnings  
• Emergency Operation Center capabilities  
• Redundancy in receiving severe weather warnings and forecasts 
• Systems in place to monitor the local weather conditions  
• Public engagement activities  
• Formal emergency plans and procedures, including training and exercises related to severe weather response and recovery 

The National Weather Service determined that the City meets, or exceeds, all aspects of the StormReady requirements, with no additional recommendations. The certification letter highlighted the City’s partnership and collaboration with the National Weather Service Wakefield to help make the entire Hampton Roads region more resilient against the impacts of severe weather.  

Learn more about the City’s emergency management program and how to be prepared at oem.VirginiaBeach.gov.