Goochland Opens Warming Shelters for Residents Without Power

Goochland County is providing a network of warming shelters and emergency supports today for residents who remain without power following Monday's snowstorm. County facilities, community partners and the volunteer fire company are coordinating to offer places to charge devices, warm up and access basic needs as crews work to restore service.

The Goochland YMCA at 1800 Dickinson Road is open daily to anyone who needs a shower or a place to charge electronic devices; hours vary and residents are asked to check local guidance for current opening times. The Goochland Sports Complex at 1800 Sandy Hook Road is serving as a day and overnight shelter from Friday through Saturday morning. Anyone who needs to charge devices or come in to get warm may use the complex, and those seeking overnight shelter should contact 804-657-2057 by 9 p.m. to arrange accommodations.

Animal owners can fill containers with water at Fire Company 5 between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. daily through Sunday; individuals must bring their own containers. For residents facing other urgent needs related to the storm, county officials directed assistance through the main response number: "Residents with urgent needs resulting from the storm should call 804-657-2057, the county will work to address the needs as quickly and safely as possible," county officials said.

The county response highlights the interplay between local government, nonprofit providers and volunteer emergency services in managing weather-related disruptions. Immediate impacts are practical: charging access preserves communication lines for families and older adults, shower facilities address basic hygiene needs after prolonged outages, and animal water services reduce stress on farm and pet owners. The availability of an overnight shelter offers relief for households without alternate accommodations while utility crews continue repairs.

Looking beyond the immediate response, the outage underscores policy and planning issues that affect Goochland residents. Emergency shelter capacity, communications about hours and locations, and logistical coordination with providers such as the YMCA and volunteer fire companies are central to local resilience. Residents directly affected should call 804-657-2057 for urgent needs, check with the YMCA for current hours, and contact the sports complex by the stated deadline if overnight shelter is required.

Neighbors are encouraged to check on elderly or vulnerable household members who may need transportation to a warming shelter, and to follow county guidance as restoration efforts continue.