Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - In a one-on-one zoom interview with WRVA to discuss the end of his term, Governor Ralph Northam forcefully responded to questions over this week's response to the snowstorm, and the massive backup on I-95. Some drivers spent over 24 hours between Richmond and Washington. Northam took issue with characterizing the response as what went wrong, saying "sick and tired" of talking about it in those terms. In the interest of transparency, WRVA is posting the questions and response below:
Northam says people should be saying thank you to those responders who braved the elements to get to people. He also wondered why more questions were not being asked of those who were driving in the storm and its aftermath. Northam has received criticism for the state's response, with numerous people, including incoming House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah), wondering why the National Guard wasn't called. Northam says the Guard cannot respond quickly, and the storm was more than predicted.
The Governor did later in the interview say he regretted people spent so long in the elements on I-95. Among those in the backup, which stretched from near Kings Dominion to past Fredericksburg, were Senator Tim Kaine (D) and Delegate Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg). Aird lost in November.
