City of Virginia Beach Facilities Closed Jan. 31, Feb. 1; Town Center Garages Available Starting Saturday

The City of Virginia Beach is prioritizing the safety of residents, staff and visitors, as winter weather is expected on Saturday and Sunday.  

All City of Virginia Beach facilities, including recreation centers, libraries, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center and Virginia Beach History Museums, will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. 

As the City departments prepare for possible impacts of the storm, residents are asked to stay indoors, limit travel and stay informed.  

For residents who need to move their vehicles out of flood-prone areas, four municipal garages at Town Center will be available starting Friday evening. Parking is free, but the public is asked to avoid parking in reserved spaces at the Town Center garages as these spaces are leased by residents, and towing will be enforced. Be aware that if garages lose power, lighting and elevators will not be operable.       

• Maroon Garage (Apex Entertainment VB)     
• Red Garage (Westin Hotel)     
• Green Garage (Armada Hoffler Tower)     
• Orange Garage (Clark Nexsen Tower)   

What Residents Can Do 

The best way to stay informed is to sign up for VBAlert, the City of Virginia Beach’s emergency alert system. You choose what you want to be alerted about and how  (voice, text or email messages). Sign up by texting “VBAlert” to 67283 or visiting VirginiaBeach.gov/VBAlert.

Residents also can stay updated on the latest conditions in the City by checking the City’s website, which will provide emergency messages and cancelations as needed, and following the City’s official social media channels. In addition, residents can always call 311 or 757-385-3111, which is available 24/7, for information. 

• Be prepared: Residents can find winter weather preparedness tips, including winterizing your pipes from the City of Virginia Beach, and winter weather tips for your car from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. 
• Download the WAZE app: Use the WAZE app to document, report and see the latest on road conditions and closures. Residents can also report hazardous road conditions by calling 311.
• Charge electronic devices: Keep your electronic devices fully charged in case you lose power. 
• Find more information: Residents can find additional valuable resources, tips and information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency at VirginiaBeach.gov/ReadyVB.  

What the City of Virginia Beach is Doing 

Activating plans and coordinating with others 
The departments of Public Works and Parks & Recreation are activating snow removal plans and deploying crews to maintain roadways and facilities. Virginia Beach has over 3,400 lane miles of arterial, collector and local streets. Virginia Beach Public Works has prioritized the plowing of routes for those with critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, fire stations, police and those with highest traffic count volumes. 

In addition, other departments throughout the City are preparing plans, staff and equipment to respond to the shifting conditions and dynamic forecasts expected throughout the weekend. 

Virginia Beach Emergency Management is coordinating with local and state partners to ensure needed resources and continually monitoring conditions. The City will follow its established Emergency Operations Plan, making adjustments and activating the Emergency Operations Center as needed.  

The Resort Management Office and the Convention & Visitors Bureau are coordinating with weekend event organizers in anticipation of weather impacts. 

Providing shelter for the homeless  
The City of Virginia Beach provides ongoing outreach and actively works with community partners to offer connections to housing, shelter and support services for people experiencing homelessness. During the winter, the City partners with PiN Ministry and faith organizations to offer single adults in Virginia Beach who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness overnight shelter at local churches.  

UPDATE: Housing and Neighborhood Preservation is coordinating with our Winter Shelter partners to expand capacity by providing overflow shelter space at the Housing Resource Center (HRC) this weekend. The Winter Shelter host church can accommodate 60 single adult males. The HRC will accommodate up to 40 single adult females.

Winter Shelter check-in for unsheltered individuals in Virginia Beach this weekend will be as follows:

• Unsheltered single adult males: 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, at PiN Ministry, 1164 Millers Lane, Suite A.
• Unsheltered single adult females:
  • 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, at PiN Ministry, 1164 Millers Lane, Suite A (to be transported to the HRC).
  • Starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, the HRC, 104 N. Witchduck Road, will accept females any time during the winter storm. 

Families with children who are experiencing homelessness should call the Housing Resource Center, 757-385-5167, for information on the availability of shelter.