CHARLESTON, WV–As the first heat wave of 2024 sweeps across the nation, the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) urges everyone to learn and practice heat safety to stay safe and cool. With temperatures rising, it’s crucial for all populations, especially caregivers of and those in vulnerable groups (like infants, children, and adults over 65) to plan ahead.

“West Virginia is facing a significant heat wave for this time of year,” said WVEMD Director GE McCabe. “It’s very important that we all take precautions to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our pets. Stay hydrated, stay cool, and check on your neighbors.” 

Heat Safety Tips

1. Stay Hydrated – Drink lots of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid sugary, caffeinated drinks and alcohol as they can cause dehydration. If you’re active, consider sports drinks to replace salts and minerals.
2. Keep Cool – Spend time in places with air conditioning. Malls, libraries, or cooling centers can be used to help.
   • Pets, children, and incapacitated adults should never be left in a parked car. If you see a pet, person, or child in a hot car, call 911 immediately.
   • If you don’t have air conditioning at home, use fans and take cool showers or baths.
   • When outdoors, wear loose, light-colored clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses.
3. Limit Outdoor Activities – Schedule outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day. Take frequent breaks in cool areas, avoid heavy meals, and stay out of direct sunlight.
   • Children and pets can be burned by hot pavement or sidewalks. Plan walks and play time for cooler hours of the day.
     • Check the sidewalk temperature by placing your hand on the surface for five seconds. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for kids and pets.
   • Playground equipment also becomes quite hot. Check the surfaces before allowing kids to play.
   • Historically, the coolest parts of the day in West Virginia are before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m. The hottest parts of the day are the hours between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. when the sun is strongest.
4. Recognize Heat-Related Illnesses – Learn the symptoms of heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, dizziness, thirst) and heat stroke (throbbing headache, confusion, sweating may be reduced or absent) and seek immediate medical help if you or someone around you experiences these symptoms.
   • Muscle pain and cramping are often the first sign that your body is having trouble with the heat. If you experience muscle cramps, take a break and drink water or a sports drink. Find medical help if cramps last longer than one hour.
   • Check on elderly neighbors, kids, and pets often to ensure they’re well, hydrated, and cool.
5. Plan Ahead – Create an emergency kit with essential supplies including water and medications. Stay informed by monitoring local weather alerts and news updates.
   • The CDC’s HeatRisk Dashboard allows the user to enter their zip code and learn the heat risk and air quality for the week, in addition to tips to help you plan ahead.
   • If you need assistance finding a cooling center, please contact your county or local emergency management agency.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has awarded a $1,965,525 to the askHRgreen.org public awareness initiative to bolster its “Start Smart, Recycle Right” recycling education and outreach program in Hampton Roads.

The grant is part of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes a component to expand recycling infrastructure and education for waste management systems, a release states. The EPA grant will help amplify recycling awareness, educate residents on the benefits of recycling and improve access to recycling information.

“Our region, like so many others, needs a culture shift in recycling behavior, and the EPA grant will help us elevate our ‘Start Smart, Recycle Right’ message to help residents understand what is and is not recyclable locally,” said Katie Cullipher, HRPDC Principal Environmental Education Planner and a team leader of the askHRgreen.org initiative. “With this funding, we’ll work on streamlining messaging and making the information more accessible to all residents of Hampton Roads.”

More than two decades ago, a University of Virginia student found her voice by being silent. Maria Pulzetti created a “Day of Silence” in 1996 because she felt the concerns, fears and safety of LGBTQ youth were being ignored and silenced by school leaders and other adults. A year later, more than 100 institutions were hosting their own “Day of Silence.” One student’s simple action to be heard became an invaluable means of amplifying the voices and struggles of thousands nationwide.

How many others living, working, studying or visiting Virginia, and who identify with a marginalized population, also feel silenced? It is here, within the vacuum of reticence, that perpetuates most of the hate crimes at the forefront of local, state and federal law enforcement’s concern.

From hate crimes against Black community members, to Asian Americans during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, to those identifying as LGBTQIA+, to those struggling with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, victimization is a daily reality for far too many individuals. While each case and a perpetrator’s intent may vary, hate crimes are typically committed based on a victim’s perceived or actual: race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.

Data shows that most hate crimes reported to the FBI Norfolk Office and Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Chesapeake Field Office result from racial bias. However, we recognize that even the best data does not paint an accurate picture of the problem. Hate crimes are too often underreported for a variety of reasons, but in large part due to a mistrust in law enforcement or the idea that justice may never be served even if a victim was to come forward.

This is why effective community outreach is a key priority for the FBI Norfolk Office and state police. While our agencies are aggressively investigating those committing hate crimes across the region, our special agents and leadership are just as active engaging with residents and listening to their needs. You can find our FBI agents participating in community roundtables, such as the one hosted in Suffolk in March, and honoring community leaders, such as Dr. Anthony Sandifer and the 200+ Men Inc., for the incredible differences they are making in the lives of others. State police personnel are routinely providing safety presentations in schools and churches across the Hampton Roads and Tidewater regions to overcome the gaps of mistrust and misunderstanding.

We value every opportunity to meet our marginalized communities where they are at, understand their adversities, respect their needs and provide them with the security and justice they rightfully deserve. We also realize that we cannot meet or connect with every individual who needs us. If you or someone you know is a victim of a hate crime, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or file a report with the Virginia State Police by dialing #77 on a cell phone anywhere in the commonwealth. Reaching out to us is how we bring criminals to light and justice to the deserving.

No one should be made to fear for their safety or to speak up because of where they were born, what they look like, how they choose to identify, or who they worship or don’t. Just as Maria Pulzetti’s “Day of Silence” does not end quietly, neither will we — the FBI or Virginia State Police — in our pursuit to ensure that those who deserve to speak are heard, understood and kept safe.

Brian Dugan is special agent in charge of FBI Norfolk. Capt. Tim Reibel leads the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Chesapeake Field Office.