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Dickenson County ratifies and then dissolves local emergency as flood recovery shifts to cleanup and donations
Summary
Supervisors ratified a local emergency declaration tied to widespread February flooding, later voted to dissolve the declaration while outlining recovery steps, damage reporting and limits on county assistance for private driveways and bridges.
The Dickenson County Board of Supervisors ratified a local emergency declaration tied to widespread flooding that occurred on Feb. 15, 2025, then voted in the same meeting to dissolve the declaration after reporting that immediate rescue and damage‑assessment operations had concluded.
The chairman read a declaration citing Code of Virginia §44‑146.21 and noting that the county director of emergency management had declared a local emergency at 2:20 p.m. on Feb. 15. The board approved the declaration by motion and roll call and later approved a motion to end the declaration after noting that state and federal damage‑assessment work was under way and that emergency response priorities had shifted to recovery. The board said the declaration’s adoption and subsequent dissolution would not hinder the county’s ability to pursue state or federal assistance, including potential public‑assistance and individual‑assistance programs.
Supervisors and staff described rescue and relief efforts during the storm: sheriff’s deputies, volunteer fire and rescue squads, county maintenance crews, the National Guard, the Virginia Department of Forestry, VDOT and local towns all participated in rescues, supply distribution and road clearing. Supervisors thanked volunteers and partner agencies and repeatedly stressed that Virginia law prohibits the county from performing work on private driveways and single‑house private bridges; the board said it is pursuing nonprofit and donation channels (including a United Way drive) to assist homeowners in need.
County staff provided a contact number for residents with flood damage to register reports and request assistance documentation for potential disaster assistance: (276) 926‑1676 (Dickenson County supervisors’ office). The board also summarized volunteer‑and‑donation coordination, shelter operations and ongoing debris clearance plans. No emergency spending appropriation was recorded at the meeting; supervisors said they would coordinate recovery spending through existing maintenance and emergency budgets and with state and federal partners.
