Major storm emergencies are not an everyday part of life in Richmond. Most of the time, a thunderstorm passes, the rain stops, and life goes on.
But Central Virginia still gets strong thunderstorms, heavy rain, tropical systems, high winds, flash flooding, and power outages from time to time. Being prepared does not mean expecting the worst. It simply makes the occasional bad storm much easier to handle.
At PMI James River, storm readiness is about more than protecting the rental home. We want you to know what to do, where to get information, and who to call so you are not trying to figure everything out when the lights are already off or water suddenly appears where it should not be.
Storm Readiness: The Short Version
- Charge your phone and backup batteries before the weather arrives.
- Keep flashlights, basic food, water, medications, and anything else your household may need within easy reach.
- Bring in or secure patio furniture, trash cans, planters, toys, cushions, and other loose outdoor items before strong winds begin.
- Know where your electrical panel and main water shutoff are before you need them.
- If the power goes out, first check whether the outage is affecting the neighborhood.
- If water starts entering the home, tell us promptly.
- Once conditions become dangerous, take care of yourself first. Property can wait.
Before the Storm: Make Things Easier on Yourself
A useful storm plan is mostly ordinary household preparation.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management recommends keeping basic emergency supplies available, including food, water, medications, batteries, flashlights, and supplies for pets or other household needs.
You do not need an elaborate disaster kit for every thunderstorm. The practical question is simpler: if the power were out for a few hours tonight, would you have what you need?
Before stronger weather arrives:
- Charge phones, battery packs, and essential devices.
- Find your flashlights before you are looking for them in the dark.
- Keep needed medications accessible.
- Make sure you have food, water, and pet supplies that do not depend on the power being on.
- Bring loose outdoor items inside or secure them while conditions are still calm.
For local conditions, the National Weather Service Richmond weather page provides forecasts, warnings, radar, rainfall information, and severe-weather updates for the Richmond area.
Know Two Things About Your Home
There are also two locations worth finding before an emergency: your electrical panel and your main water shutoff.
You do not need to become a handyman. We simply do not want the first time you look for the water shutoff to be while water is actively running across the floor.
Our resident maintenance page includes guidance for basic breaker troubleshooting and using an emergency water shutoff.
During the Storm: People First, Property Second
If the storm is underway, your safety matters more than a trash can, patio chair, tree limb, roof shingle, or anything else outside.
Do not go outside during dangerous winds or lightning to retrieve something that blew away. Do not climb onto a roof to investigate a leak. Do not enter standing water to find out where it came from.
If you hear thunder or severe weather is nearby, stay inside and follow current National Weather Service warnings. If flooding develops, the National Weather Service advises staying out of floodwater and avoiding any area where water may be in contact with electrical equipment.
If the Power Goes Out
A power outage can be frustrating, especially when you do not know whether the problem is the house or the electric grid.
Start by looking outside or checking your electric utility's outage information. If nearby homes are also dark or the utility shows an outage in the area, report it to the utility and follow its restoration updates.
If power appears to be out only at your home, and the electrical panel and surrounding area are dry and safe, you can follow the basic breaker and GFCI troubleshooting on our maintenance page.
If the problem continues and appears limited to the rental home, submit a maintenance request.
If you see sparks, smell burning electrical material, hear unusual buzzing or crackling, see damaged wiring, or find water near electrical equipment, stop troubleshooting and move away from the area.
If Water Starts Coming In
Please tell us early.
A ceiling drip, water around a window or door, wet drywall, water across the floor, or a plumbing leak may look small at first. Those are exactly the problems we would rather hear about before they have had several hours to spread.
If you can safely move belongings away from the water or place a container under a small drip, that can help while you report it.
For a major plumbing leak, if you already know where the emergency water shutoff is and can reach it safely, shut off the water and contact us.
You do not need to find the source of a roof leak, climb into an attic, move through standing water, or go outside during dangerous weather. Tell us where you see the water, when it started, whether it is still coming in, and send photos if you safely can.
After the Storm: Tell Us What Changed
Once the weather has passed and conditions are safe, a quick look around the parts of the home you normally use can catch problems that were not obvious during the storm.
Let us know if you notice:
- A new ceiling or wall stain
- Wet carpet, flooring, drywall, or window areas
- Water entering around a door or window
- A fallen limb on the home, deck, fence, or driveway
- Exterior damage that is visible from the ground
- A fence or gate that no longer closes properly
- Electrical problems after utility service has been restored
- A new damp area, odor, or other condition that appeared after the storm
Photos help. So does telling us whether the condition is active, getting worse, or appears to have stopped.
You are not bothering us by reporting a new storm-related problem. We would much rather know about a small water stain while it is still a small water stain than hear about it after another round of rain.
Know Who to Call
Storms can create several problems at once, and not all of them go to the same place.
- Immediate danger to people: Call 911 first.
- A neighborhood power outage: Check with and report it to your electric utility.
- Something has changed, failed, leaked, or been damaged at your rental home: Contact PMI James River.
You do not need to diagnose the problem before contacting us. Tell us what you see and we can help work out the next step.
Our Resident Resources page gives you access to maintenance requests, the resident portal, and other information you may need.
Storm planning also overlaps with our other seasonal resident guides. During hot weather, our Richmond summer survival guide covers heat, comfort, and summer routines. Before freezing weather, our resident winterizing guide covers cold-weather and frozen-pipe preparation.
Storm Readiness FAQ
Does Richmond Get a Lot of Severe Storms?
Major storm emergencies are not an everyday part of living in Richmond, and most storms do not turn into household disasters. But Central Virginia does occasionally experience strong thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, tropical systems, flash flooding, wind damage, and power outages. A small amount of preparation makes those less-common events much easier to manage.
Should I Submit a Maintenance Request Every Time the Power Goes Out?
No. Check whether nearby homes are also without power and look at your electric utility's outage information first. If the outage is affecting the area, the utility is responsible for restoring service. If the problem appears limited to your home after basic safe troubleshooting, submit a maintenance request.
What Should I Do if Water Starts Coming Through the Ceiling?
Move belongings away from the affected area if you can do so safely and let us know promptly. Tell us whether the water is actively dripping or spreading and send photos if possible. Do not climb into an attic or onto the roof to investigate.
Should I Go Outside to Secure Something After the Storm Starts?
No. Secure outdoor items while conditions are still calm. Once dangerous wind, thunder, or lightning arrives, stay inside. The chair, trash can, or cushion can wait.
What if I Am Not Sure Whether Something Is Serious?
Tell us what you see. You do not need to decide whether something qualifies as serious before contacting us. A photo, the location, when it started, and whether it is changing usually gives us enough information to help determine the next step.
Preparation Without Panic
Storm readiness in Richmond should not feel dramatic. Most of the time, you will charge the phone, bring a few things inside, watch the rain come through, and never need any of the rest of this guide.
That is perfectly fine.
The preparation is there for the occasional storm that does knock out power, push water somewhere unexpected, or leave damage behind. When that happens, we want you to know what to do, stay safe, and know that you can contact us when something at the home needs attention.
Published: August 21, 2026
