Radford City Council ratifies local emergency as city outlines winter‑storm response and FEMA requests
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Summary
Radford City Council voted Jan. 27 to confirm a local emergency declared Jan. 24 for Winter Storm Fern and heard an update from City Manager Todd Meredith on public‑works operations, trash delays and preliminary FEMA reimbursements.
Radford City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to ratify a declaration of a local emergency that City Manager Todd Meredith issued Jan. 24 in response to Winter Storm Fern.
The resolution, read into the record by the mayor and approved by voice vote, cites the Code of Virginia provisions that require a governing body to confirm any local emergency declaration at its next regular meeting. Council moved quickly to approve the ratification so the city could continue to activate its emergency operations plan and seek state and federal assistance.
At manager comments, Meredith thanked public works, police, fire and EMS personnel for around‑the‑clock response efforts and described field conditions that hampered de‑icing: temperatures below about 10–15°F limited salt effectiveness, requiring crews to scrape and drop salt in shifts. He asked residents who place trash curbside from alleys to move bins to the street to help crews complete pickups while alleyways remain uncleared.
Meredith also outlined early steps in the reimbursement process: the city has received approximately $34,000 in FEMA reimbursement and has submitted roughly $300,000 in additional requests. He and council said more claims are expected as crews finish damage assessments. Councilmembers asked for a fuller FEMA briefing at a future meeting to track reporting and expected reimbursements.
Councilmembers praised public‑works crews and other first responders for working 12‑hour shifts during the storm and noted the community’s mutual aid and neighborly assistance. The meeting closed its public session after approving the emergency resolution and other agenda items and then moved into a closed session to consult with legal counsel on a separate water‑service agreement matter.
The ratified declaration activates Radford’s emergency operations plan and allows the city to continue coordination with state and federal agencies; council did not set a sunset date in the recorded motion. The manager said staff will return with more details about damage totals and next steps for FEMA and state reimbursement filings.
