Powhatan Public Safety Communications Department

09/08/2026

Operation Yellow Tape 5th Annual Conference

Empowering First Responders: Building Strength, Resilience, and Hope

For more information, visit:
https://www.kennymitchelljr.com/oyt5

Kenny Mitchell

09/02/2026

On August 16, 2026, our dispatch center received a 911 call from a family who was in trouble on the James River during a severe storm. The storm at the time was causing connectivity issues with devices in the area. While Powhatan County Fire and Rescue units were responding to the call, off duty Supervisor M. Blaska was at home and had her radio on. She quickly pulled up What3Words which is an app that provides users with a secure three word code for any 10-foot square area. Supervisor Blaska then relayed the What3Words to Powhatan Assistant Fire Rescue Chief P. Schoeffel which allowed the family to be located quickly.

This is a great example of how our Communications Officers think outside the box and work together when things don’t go as planned.

Great job to Communication Officers C. Mills, T. Bowles , Supervisor C. Chaffins who were working on shift that night.

08/08/2026

Please be aware that there seems to be a nationwide Verizon outage. It appears that 911 calls are still coming in like normal. If there seems to be a connection issue, please try to text 911 as well or try from a non Verizon phone.

08/05/2026

🚨🚨 TRAFFIC ALERT 🚨 🚨

Stavemill Rd is blocked at Cedar Cross Ct. in both directions. VDOT has been notified. Alternate route: Dorset to Rt 60.

08/04/2026

Event has been rescheduled to Tuesday, October 6th!

After closely monitoring the weather forecast, we have made the difficult decision to cancel tonight's National Night Out event due to the expected rain and the safety of our vendors, volunteers, and attendees.
We know many of you have put a great deal of time and effort into preparing for this event, and we truly appreciate your support and understanding.
We are excited to announce that our Fall National Night Out event is already scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, and we hope you'll be able to join us then. Additional details will be shared as we get closer to the event.
We look forward to seeing you in October!

Powhatan Public Safety Communications Department

Powhatan County, Virginia

Powhatan Animal Control

07/22/2026

On Thursday, July 23, Powhatan County Public Schools, in partnership with local law enforcement and emergency responders, will be conducting a full-scale emergency drill.

Please review the important details below regarding building closures and traffic impacts during this training exercise:

Building Closures (7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.): All PCPS buildings and campuses will be closed to the public, staff, and students from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This includes the Powhatan Landmark Center (PLC) and the Transportation Department.
Active Drill Locations: The exercise will take place at Powhatan High School (PHS) and Flat Rock Elementary School (FRES).
Traffic & Road Closures: Please expect a heavy presence of emergency vehicles, potential road closures, and increased traffic around PHS and FRES during the morning hours. We advise community members to avoid these areas if possible.
We appreciate your cooperation and patience as our staff and local first responders conduct this vital safety training. All buildings are expected to resume normal operations at 12:00 p.m. on the day of the drill.

07/17/2026

‼️‼️

07/16/2026

This throwback Thursday, we’re taking a moment to recognize the dispatchers who helped lay the foundation for our Communications Center. Their commitment to serving Powhatan helped shape the team we are today.

Thank you to those who answered the call and for the lasting impact you’ve made on public safety. We appreciate your service and the legacy you leave behind.💛🖤

07/15/2026

Make sure to mark your calendars for National Night Out on August 4th from 5:30pm-7:30pm 🚔🚑🌟

07/14/2026

***** she has been located and is safe.**********
Please keep your eye out for this dog her name is Bonnie and she was last seen near Unity Church of Bon Air. Please call the shelter at (804) 598-5672 or (804) 598-5656.