Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hanover Board adopts updated Emergency Operations Plan, extends review cycle
Summary
After a presentation by emergency manager Jason Williams, the Board unanimously adopted the 2026 Emergency Operations Plan, authorized filing with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and noted a statutory change (House Bill 347) moving the required review cycle from four to five years.
Emergency manager Jason Williams told the Board the 2026 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) contains minor but important updates to clarify roles, improve usability and reflect current partners, and the county is now prepared to adopt and file the plan with the state.
"An EOP is really the county's playbook for emergencies," Williams said, explaining the plan assigns duties across 17 emergency support functions and is intended as a living document for response and recovery. He said most changes streamlined formatting, clarified overlapping responsibilities, and updated partner references including the Pamunkey Regional Library and the town of Ashland.
Williams also noted House Bill 347 changes Virginia's review cycle for EOPs from every four years to every five years; the next required review will be May 2031 under the new schedule. The board moved to adopt the 2026 EOP, the motion was seconded, and members voted to approve the plan and authorize filing with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
The adoption formalizes the updated plan and directs staff to file the approved document as required by state law. No amendments were made on the floor at the meeting.
