As many parts of Virginia prepare for another winter storm this weekend, Henry County residents are reminded to only call 9-1-1 for emergencies.
Examples of emergencies include life-threatening or traumatic injuries that pose a high risk of death or the loss of a limb.
Additionally, the 9-1-1 help line should be used to report fires that cannot be extinguished or a law enforcement situation where someone is at risk of injury or death.
The emergency line should not be used to report problems such as power outages or to inquire about road conditions. Many of these questions may be answered by dialing 2-1-1 or 5-1-1 instead.
It is especially important right now to limit the amount of phone traffic on emergency lines due to staffing shortages and the capacity issues at local hospitals which are overwhelmed with patients from the recent spike in COVID-19 positive cases.
Henry County career staff and volunteers are preparing the best they can, but due to these limiting factors, delayed response times can be expected. Residents should take the necessary precautions ahead of time to remain safe and warm until the effects of the anticipated weather have subsided.
A guide to some emergency winter weather preparedness tips may be found by visiting: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/public-relations-contacts/winter-weather-preparedness/
