Richmond residents question response after January snowstorm
RICHMOND, Va. — A January winter storm that blanketed Richmond in snow and ice has prompted some residents to question how effectively academic and governmental institutions communicated closures and cleared streets and sidewalks.
A.H. had this to say: “I think it was evident after Monday they were predominantly closing due to roadside conditions and I don’t think it was willfully ignorant, but this was not sufficient.”
The recent storm followed a severe, unprecedented event in 2025 that disrupted water service across Richmond and nearby counties, further fanning residents’ fears as forecasters warned of a worse storm.
On Jan. 22, Abigail Spanberger declared a state of emergency, announcing expected “dangerous ice and significant snow, along with extended power outages.” Spanberger warned of this “catastrophic” storm to ensure they sent out clearing crews, as opposed to rescue teams.
The next day, Virginia Commonwealth University officials announced a campus closure shortly after 3 p.m. following lengthy deliberation. Artturi Harcher, who supervises student employees, feels the university acted late. He said he “quickly notified the students on his team before leaving campus.”
Across the city, L.M. also ended her workday and returned home as Richmond turned white.
Richmond was being pelted with snow. While some of which melted in sunlight, temperatures were frigid enough to re-freeze. The snow continued from Friday to Sunday. About 24-30 hours later, clouds parted. The snow remained.
While major roadways were prioritized for plowing, transportation officials warned that neighborhood streets and residential areas could take longer to clear after the storm. WTVR CBS 6 noted Gov. Spanberger’s words on the storm’s lingering conditions, saying, it would be multiple days after the end of the storm before Virginia’s roads and subdivisions are cleared.
For residents like H and M, such lingering conditions made travel difficult.
H said walking around his neighborhood required “baby steps,” carefully watching his footing on icy sidewalks as he traversed the frozen city. “It was horrible,” he said, describing the experience of navigating untreated paths.
M said she slipped almost immediately after stepping onto the frozen stairs outside her home.
H extends his criticism to the snow removal near campus housing. Living one block from a residence hall, he said, plowing appeared to stop short of nearby residential streets, neglecting nearby students.
The week of Jan. 26 brought continued disruption. Richmond may have been open, but most Richmonders stayed home. VCU shifted some classes online for part of the week.
Still, H said students and staff often learned whether classes would be remote or in person the morning of the scheduled class.
The uncertainty led to “delayed assignments, schedule changes, and canceled plans,” he said.
For M, the storm’s impact lasted several days. She worked the entire week remotely, remarking that her car was frozen in place until Jan. 30 due to a frozen mass of snow and ice.
A, after it all: “I think it’s obvious they did not invest enough in their efforts; it’s a fact of life that we have to travel to get to VCU and if you want us to go, we have to be able to get there.”
Reference
Curtis, S. (2026, January 22). State of Emergency declared in Virginia ahead of weekend winter storm. WBOC TV. https://www.wboc.com/news/state-of-emergency-declared-in-virginia-ahead-of-weekend-winter-storm/article_f4525717-3a67-4d12-82c8-0044c2301995.html
H, A. (2026, February 24). Richmond in a snowstorm with A H.
M, L. (2026, March 14). Richmond in a snowstorm with L M.
WTVR CBS 6 Web Staff. (2026, January 24). CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/virginia-governor-stay-off-roads-catastrophic-winter-storm-jan-24-2026
Leave a Reply