Storm aftermath response: Need help? Want to help? We have a list of resources available.
Montgomery and Pulaski counties have been added to the list of localities under the federal major disaster declaration issued in the wake of flooding and wind damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene in late September.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, amended the initial major disaster declaration to include nine localities: the counties of Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wythe and the city of Galax.
Residents who sustained Helene-related losses in those counties can begin to apply for individual assistance at https://www.fema.gov/ or https://www.disasterassistance.gov/, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App.
As of Friday, one week after the devastation, federal, state and local emergency management agencies had determined that 519 homes had been damaged. That number includes 44 homes that were destroyed, 161 that sustained major damage, 146 that sustained minor damage and 168 that were affected.
Those numbers are expected to rise as agencies continue to conduct assessments.
Two Helene-related tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down in Pittsylvania County, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said during a press briefing on Friday morning. His team is working to get that locality, along with others, added to the list, he said.
About 200 FEMA personnel were on the ground in Southwest Virginia as of Friday, and more are expected to come over the course of the next week. FEMA will send people out to go door-to-door through the region to help residents fill out the forms needed to receive aid.
What can FEMA aid cover?
FEMA may be able to help people in Southwest Virginia who have been affected by Helene to pay for essential items, temporary housing, home repairs and other needs due to the disaster. Those other needs can include:
- Essential items such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, medical supplies and equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation;
- Financial assistance to help pay for hotel stays, stays with family and friends, or other options while seeking a rental unit as well as rental assistance if a person is displaced because of the disaster;
- Repair or replacement of a vehicle, appliances, room furnishings, personal or family computer;
- Books, uniforms, tools, computers and other items required for school or work, including self-employment; and
- Moving and storage fees, medical expenses, childcare and funeral expenses.
As of Oct. 5, FEMA has provided $110 million to thousands of people affected by Hurricane Helene across the Southeast region of the U.S. Of that, more than $230,000 has been disbursed to over 50 households in Southwest Virginia.