In the event of a strong hurricane, Mathews residents should seriously consider leaving for a safer location, officials said during a preparedness exercise last week.
That was among the suggestions offered by county, volunteer fire and rescue, Coast Guard and Dominion Power officials during a hurricane preparedness exercise June 25 at the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad conference room at Hudgins.
Sheriff Mark Barrick probably summed up the situation best when he jokingly said if a large storm is threatening this area people should “get the hell out of Dodge.”
Mathews emergency services coordinator Dave Burns agreed with Barrick, stating that residents should make preparations and, if they decide to leave, make sure they allow lots of extra time since roadways may be clogged or even flooded.
Approximately two dozen officials took part in the Mathews exercise. A number of other jurisdictions also participated in the state-prepared exercise including Gloucester.
As a practice ...