Part 5/9:

The crisis resulted from a combination of an aging infrastructure and lack of preparedness for weather events that residents were aware of well in advance. Richmond’s water infrastructure is over a century old, plagued by staff shortages and outdated technology that rendered local utilities unable to cope with the unexpected demands or infrastructure failures during the storm.

As commercial establishments closed and schools shut down, the strain on the backup water supply became evident. Citizens resorted to melting snow to flush toilets, sharing resources, and braving icy conditions to retrieve drinking water. Social media updates showed long lines at bottled water distribution sites, which were often devoid of supplies.