Emergency Resources
In case of an emergency, WRIR is the official source for communications from the City of Richmond.
Tune in on 97.3 FM or via our website by clicking the listen button. You can reach the city by calling (804) 646-HELP.
If you need immediate assistance, call 9-1-1.
COVID-19 (Corona)
WRIR statement
March 31, 2020: We are operating normally, under the “essential service” designation.
We have taken steps to ensure our communal space is kept clean and disinfected and have eliminated guests and meetings at the station. Our volunteers are dedicated to being a resource for information on the ongoing situation and an outlet for those practicing social distancing or who are quarantined. We have also implemented partial remote management to ensure content keeps flowing even without anyone physically present at the station.
CDC recommendation
Everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat:
- On March 16, the White House announced a program called “15 Days to Slow the Spread,” which is a nationwide effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 through the implementation of social distancing at all levels of society.
- Older people and people with severe chronic conditions should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness.
- If you are a healthcare provider, use your judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested. Factors to consider in addition to clinical symptoms may include:
- Does the patient have recent travel from an affected area?
- Has the patient been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or with patients with pneumonia of unknown cause?
- Does the patient reside in an area where there has been community spread of COVID-19?
- If you are a healthcare provider or a public health responder caring for a COVID-19 patient, please take care of yourself and follow recommended infection control procedures.
- People who get a fever or cough should consider whether they might have COVID-19, depending on where they live, their travel history or other exposures. More than half of the U.S. is seeing some level of community spread of COVID-19. Testing for COVID-19 may be accessed through medical providers or public health departments, but there is no treatment for this virus. Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home without medical care.
- For people who are ill with COVID-19, but are not sick enough to be hospitalized, please follow CDC guidance on how to reduce the risk of spreading your illness to others. People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness.
- If you have been in China or another affected area or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you will face some limitations on your movement and activity. Please follow instructions during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow spread of this virus.
Statements from officials
- Center for Disease Control coverage of COVID-19
- World Health Organization statement
- White House statement
- Statements from Richmond Mayor, Levar Stoney
School information
- Richmond Public Schools
- Randolph-Macon University
- University of Richmond
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia State University
- Virginia Union University
Media coverage
Latest information on number and location of cases in the United States: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html#reporting-cases
Many media organizations are dropping paywalls for COVID-19 coverage. Notably:
The Atlantic, WSJ, Talking Points Memo, Globe and Mail, Seattle Times, Miami Herald (and other McClatchy-owned properties), Toronto Star, Stat, Dallas Morning News, Medium, NY Times, and several medical/science journals. Notably, The Guardian relies on online subscription revenue but doesn’t put anything behind a paywall, including their coronavirus coverage.
In addition, a group of archivists have created an online directory of scientific papers related to coronaviruses, available for free download.
—Via Kottke.org
Regional closings
General emergency resources
City of Richmond Emergency Resources
Virginia Hurricane Evacuation Zones
Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management
National Hurricane Center
Amateur Radio and Emergency Communications
Disaster Preparedness on a Budget
Learn more about emergency situations
Know the Facts about Emergencies
How to prepare for Emergencies
Weather Safety Facts
Natural Disaster Facts
