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2017 SESSION
WHEREAS, on February 24, 2016, after a series of strong storms that spawned several tornadoes in the Commonwealth, an EF-3 tornado touched down in Essex County and traveled nearly 28 miles before crossing the Rappahannock River and entering Richmond County and Westmoreland County; and
WHEREAS, the tornado caused severe damage to homes, neighborhoods, businesses, churches, and personal property, and access on major roadways and streets was limited due to downed trees and other debris; and
WHEREAS, first responders to the communities affected by the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula tornado quickly assessed damage, located and cared for the injured, and liaised with local hospitals to ensure timely care; without this collaborative assistance, the disaster recovery efforts would have been impossible; and
WHEREAS, numerous fire and emergency services departments responded to the incident, including Tappahannock-Essex Volunteer Fire Department, Essex EMS, Port Royal Volunteer Fire Department, Sparta Volunteer Fire Department, Upper King & Queen Volunteer Fire Department, Upper King & Queen Volunteer Rescue Squad, Walkerton Community Fire Association, Mattaponi Volunteer Rescue Squad, King William Volunteer Fire Department, Mangohick Volunteer Fire Department, West Point Fire & Rescue, White Stone Volunteer Fire Department, Richmond County Volunteer Fire Department, Richmond County EMS, Callao Volunteer Fire Department, Callao Volunteer Rescue Squad, Cople District Volunteer Fire Department, Central Middlesex Volunteer Rescue Squad, Urbanna Volunteer Fire Department, Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department, Waterview Volunteer Fire Department, Mathews Volunteer Fire Department, Caroline County Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management, A. P. Hill Military Reservation, Hanover County Fire-EMS, Henrico Division of Fire, Chesterfield Fire and EMS, Newport News Fire Department, LifeCare Ambulance Service, and AMR Ambulance Service; and
WHEREAS, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Tappahannock Police Department, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, King & Queen County Sheriff’s Office, King William County Sheriff’s Office, Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office responded in support of other local law-enforcement departments; and
WHEREAS, the actions of the first responders to the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula tornado are a testament to the professionalism, dedication, selflessness, and loyalty to the community demonstrated by public safety officers throughout the Commonwealth and the United States; and
WHEREAS, the WRAR and WNNT radio stations extraordinarily began simulcasting to give tornado safety tips and the projected path of the storm to listeners despite the loss of power and television services resulting in numerous lives saved and continued to broadcast information from local law enforcement and emergency services throughout the evening and into the following days, weeks, and months as rescue and recovery took place; and
WHEREAS, the Riverside Tappahannock Hospital treated numerous injuries ranging from minor to serious and served as a coordinating center for families to connect with their loved ones who had been taken to other hospitals; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the first responders to the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula tornado; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to the first responders to the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula tornado as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the actions of all units involved in the response to this incident.