Fauquier closes out local emergency after Jan. snow; officials cite early preparation and low outages

Fauquier County officials on Jan. 9 briefed the Board of Supervisors on the county’s response to the Jan. 6 snow event and confirmed a resolution to end the local emergency declaration.

Mike Gidaitis, speaking for the county, said emergency managers began preparing early, coordinated with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and regional partners, and activated a county snow team that included fire/rescue, the sheriff’s office and public works. "One of the big successes out of this storm was ... we had one message, but many voices," Gidaitis said, referring to consistent public warnings that encouraged residents to stay off roads.

Forecasts initially indicated a risk of heavy snow and ice similar to a severe 2022 storm, Gidaitis said, and that risk triggered an early local disaster declaration so the county could access state resources if needed. In the event, the storm was less severe than feared: winds were lower and power outages were minimal. Officials said the National Guard stood ready and that the county coordinated daily briefings and sheltering plans during the response.

Board members asked about outreach and how residents can sign up for emergency text and phone alerts; staff said the county added outreach when launching a new alert system about a year ago and that sign-ups remain available on the county and emergency management websites. Supervisors also raised questions about plowing on particular roads; staff reiterated that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) handles most county road snow operations and pointed supervisors to VDOT’s real-time maps and district situation reports for route-level details.

The county administrator and emergency management staff will continue to coordinate with VDOT and other partners on storm response and public messaging.