CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) —With forecasts calling for major snowfall this weekend, local officials in Charlottesville, Albemarle and the surrounding counties are spreading the word about how best to prepare for next week’s weather.

Forecast call for upwards of 21 inches over the weekend, with freezing temperatures the following week. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for 4 p.m. Saturday until 4 a.m. Monday.

Albemarle County Fire Rescue’s Deputy Chief for Emergency Management Emily Pellicca told Cville Right Now this week has been all about preparing for the upcoming storm, which the department was anticipating would come at some point based on the information they receive on a biweekly basis from the National Weather Service and quarterly from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

“We knew this winter was going to have at least one or two of these bigger events,” she said, “so it wasn’t as much of a surprise in that sense even though some of the totals are looking like stuff we don’t see, maybe once every 10 years.”

Pellicca and other officials in the county are preparing for the worst of what could come this weekend, developing contingency plans for different scenarios that may arise and leaning on the county’s emergency operations plan. The county will also actively take notes during emergency situations in order to develop hazard specific plans for the future.

“In the public safety world, [emergency management is] the youngest of the the three disciplines that the county does,” she said, “So there’s always a lot of room for improvement there.”

Pellicca highlighted communication, both amongst officials and with the community, as the county’s biggest challenges, as the methods people use are ever-changing.

She said the messaging the county hopes to relay right now is to stock up on resources that may be needed to be self-sufficient for 72 hours or more. This includes stocking up on food and medication, making sure your heating system is working, filling up your car with gas and stocking up antifreeze and may even new antifreeze and preparing emergency kits for both the car and home, among other items.

Once the weather comes in, Pellicca said the County is urging people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, and in the event of power outrages, do not bring any generators inside the house and make sure there is a 3 foot safety zone around any space heater.

Pellicca also encouraged community members to check on their neighbors, especially if they are older, to make sure they’ll be okay in the event of emergency.

“If we look out for each other, we’ll be in much better shape,” she said.

These sentiments have been echoed by other localities in the area, including the Counties of Orange and Nelson and City of Gordonsville via their Facebook accounts. The City of Charlottesville has already delayed leaf collection this Saturday and is monitoring the weather to see if any changes to the CAT schedule will be necessary.

UVA, North Carolina and the ACC are monitoring the forecast to see if Saturday’s sold-out game – and Tony Bennett court naming ceremony – at John Paul Jones Arena can be played.

While many of the forecasts can be worrisome, there are still a few days before the storm is forecasted to reach Virginia, and Pellicca encourages taking advantage of the added time. She added that anyone has any questions or concerns and needs someone to come help, they are welcome to call either the emergency or nonemergency number for the 911 center.

“We’re on duty, we’re here to come help,” she said. “But you know, to the extent possible, if you can try to stay off the roads and take care of yourself, that’s really what we ask.”