Richmond City officials are pushing for a stronger emergency management team, highlighting a significant staffing shortfall during the Public Safety Standing Committee meeting on July 22, 2025. Currently, the Office of Emergency Management operates with just five personnel, despite a budget increase that has grown from $114,000 to $204,000. This staffing level is far below the recommended range of seven to ten employees for a city of Richmond's size.

The discussion revealed that the office has been relying heavily on consultants for planning and response efforts due to this staffing gap. Officials expressed a desire to build internal capacity rather than depend on external contractors. "Without those human resources in place, we have to rely upon contractors to do some of the planning work that I would like for our office to be doing in-house," one official stated.

Concerns were raised about the effectiveness of the current emergency operations center (EOC), which is located at the library. The choice of location has been questioned, especially since it is often activated during events occurring downtown. Officials noted that the library's central location can complicate operations during emergencies, prompting the use of backup facilities like the Richmond Ambulance Authority.

The committee also discussed the potential for third-party evaluations of emergency plans, with some members advocating for cost-effective peer reviews instead of expensive assessments. The meeting underscored the urgent need for Richmond to bolster its emergency management capabilities to ensure a prepared community in the face of future challenges.