VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — High winds didn’t stop people from visiting the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Thursday, even though lifeguards warned against swimming.
Tropical Depression Debby could bring a few inches of rain to the city, and even with a milder forecast than originally projected, city officials are preparing for possible storm damage.
“We’re not letting our guard down” Dave Topczynski with Virginia Beach Emergency Management said. “It’s the weather and a couple bands could wreak havoc on us.”
Virginia Beach has public works crews at the ready in case of downed trees or power lines, but Topczynski says storm preparedness is a team effort.
He explained, “Many departments you might not think of come in to support, from finance and budget to the city manager’s office, through our public safety partners, to parks and recreation. It’s really all hands on deck.”
Federal officials echo the sentiment that it’s best to be prepared for the worst.
Colt Hagmaier with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) told 13News Now, “I think people can forget how dangerous these things can be.”
He added FEMA is there to support localities like Virginia Beach if they need it, saying, “We’re doing assessments with our state and local partners to determine what other types of resources are needed. If additional types of assistance become available, we’ll get that word out.”
Virginia Beach city officials do not plan to open up storm shelters, as Tropical Depression Debby isn’t expected to create severe damage, but they say if people need help with shelter, they can contact the city’s housing authority.