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Madison County ratifies local emergency, honors EMS and emergency communications accreditation
Summary
Madison County supervisors ratified a Jan. 22 local emergency connected to Winter Storm Fern, praised coordinated storm response by EMS and county staff, and heard that the Emergency Communications Center earned APCO P33 accreditation.
Madison County supervisors voted Jan. 28 to ratify a Jan. 22 declaration of local emergency issued ahead of Winter Storm Fern, keeping emergency authority active while frigid temperatures persisted.
Deputy County Administrator Brian Gordon explained the declaration allowed the county to access additional resources and noted no major incidents occurred; the county did not open a warming shelter and reported that mutual aid remained available if needed. Supervisor Mike Snider moved to ratify Resolution #2026-2; Supervisor Jud Buchanan seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
The Board used the meeting to recognize the county’s coordinated storm response. County Administrator Jonathon Weakley credited first responders, law enforcement, facilities staff and contracted utilities for keeping operations running and ensuring calls for service were handled. Weakley singled out partnerships with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative for proactive line maintenance and Firefly’s pole-replacement work as factors that helped the county avoid power outages.
In a separate presentation, the Assistant Director of the Emergency Communications Center described completion of APCO P33 training-program accreditation, a voluntary national standard covering roughly 125–150 operational and training requirements for telecommunicators and center management. The agency was granted accreditation for four years after responding to initial feedback; the Director of the Emergency Communications Center praised the Assistant Director and staff for carrying the process while maintaining day-to-day operations.
The Board also commemorated specific life-saving actions: a Wolftown resident, Jeff Green, submitted a written commendation recognizing EMS personnel Jordan Peachey, Hailey Roberts and Lieutenant Chris Turner and County Dispatcher Ware for their response to a Dec. 11, 2025 call. The Director presented a Life Saver Certification to Dispatcher Ware, and EMS leadership presented challenge coins to staff for their response.
What’s next: County staff said the emergency declaration will remain in place until weather and road conditions improve and recommended continuing coordination with social services to support isolated residents. The APCO accreditation requires ongoing documentation and periodic review to maintain the training standard.
