A new, powerful Citizen Portal experience is ready. Switch now

Newport News council confirms and terminates local emergency from Winter Storm Fern

January 28, 2026 | Newport News (Independent City), Virginia


This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »

Newport News council confirms and terminates local emergency from Winter Storm Fern
Newport News city council on Jan. 27 confirmed a local emergency declared Jan. 20 for Winter Storm Fern and formally terminated that declaration effective 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 26, 2026.

City staff told council the declaration enabled necessary emergency actions to protect public health and safety; staff cited Code of Virginia section 44-146.21, which requires a governing body to confirm emergency declarations issued without prior approval within 45 days. Councilmember Solomon moved to confirm and terminate the declaration; the motion passed 6-0.

The resolution, as read during the meeting, ratified the actions taken during the storm and fixed the termination date and time. No additional recovery funding or expenditures were approved on the council floor at this meeting.

Next steps: termination is effective as stated in the resolution; any follow-up reporting or requests for reimbursements were not discussed during the session.

Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!

Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.

Get instant access to full meeting videos
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
Access Full Meeting

30-day money-back guarantee