Bills to bolster local emergency management personnel funding punted

By: Shannon Heckt

Outlets: Virginia Mercury

Published: February 6, 2026

Words: 670

Last Updated: 3 weeks ago

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In the wake of Hurricane Helene, local response was critical to clearing roads and activating rescues in Southwest Virginia while state and federal resources were on the way. But despite regular flooding and severe weather statewide — including recent snow and ice storms that immobilized much of the commonwealth for days — many localities don’t have a person solely dedicated to emergency management.

Through House Bill 169 and Senate Bill 98, state legislators attempted to …

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