By WMAL.com
Former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s administration was found responsible for not doing enough to mitigate the miles long traffic jam on Interstate 95 during a snowstorm in early January, according to an after-action review conducted by the office of Governor Glenn Youngkin. The traffic jam left thousands stranded on the highway, with many cars being stuck at a standstill through the night.
- Setting the stage: the traffic jam catapulted Virginia into the national spotlight, with networks covering the nearly 50-mile long traffic jam. Northam’s administration came under scrutiny and faced questions on why his office and the state weren’t better equipped to handle this kind of situation.
- The report found that government agencies failed to adequately communicate the severity of the situation with the public. “Few messages took into consideration drivers’ emotional well-being or perspective, and several Virginia residents impacted by the storm told media they felt abandoned,” said the report.
- What Youngkin said: “This report demonstrates as the storm changed in intensity and left Virginians and travelers stranded on I-95, the previous administration’s leadership did not properly prepare or communicate.” Youngkin has assured the public that his office is working closely alongside state agencies to ensure they are able to respond “quickly and adequately to each incoming weather-related event and I’ve been incredibly pleased with our execution.”
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