Virginia members of Congress have introduced a bill to create a unique ZIP code for Fairlawn.
Fairlawn — a census-designated place in Pulaski County — is currently included in the city of Radford’s ZIP code: 24141.
Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, and U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Democrats, introduced the legislation in their respective chambers on Friday. If Fairlawn were to receive its own ZIP code, residents would have greater access to federal funds for Hurricane Helene recovery and the locality could gain greater access to tax revenue.
“For too long, Fairlawn has unfairly missed out on tax revenue that would otherwise fund education, public safety, and public services due to confusion regarding its ZIP code,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “Recently, we were dismayed to find that Fairlawn residents facing loss and catastrophe after Hurricane Helene could not access individual assistance through FEMA’s online portal simply because they possessed a Radford ZIP code.”
The need for Fairlawn to have a separate ZIP code from Radford “has now reached a point of criticality considering public safety in the pre- and post-events of natural or manmade disasters,” Jonathan Sweet, the Pulaski County administrator, said in an email.
For years, sharing the ZIP code has caused significant issues for Fairlawn and Pulaski County residents. Those issues include public safety and welfare, a loss of tax revenue and confusion regarding representation, jurisdiction, regulations, ordinances, services, and more, Griffith’s office said in a statement. Sweet concurred.
Fairlawn’s lack of unique ZIP code has, most recently, created a barrier in residents’ ability to access individual federal relief following Hurricane Helene. The city of Radford had not initially been included in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster declaration and, as a result, Fairlawn residents were unable to access individual assistance through FEMA’s online portal.
“Because residents applied with their zip codes, Fairlawn residents appeared to be applying from Radford and were not able to submit their applications,” Warner’s office said in a statement.
Sen. Warner’s advocacy eventually led to residents of Radford becoming eligible for individual FEMA aid, his office said and noted that Virginia’s congressional delegation is working across the aisle to get the bill passed.
Few bills pass on stand-alone votes in the Senate, however. Most get passed as larger packages of legislation. Kaine and Warner plan to look for the best legislative path forward for the bill, including any opportunities to attach the Fairview bill to a larger package.
Griffith had introduced a bill that would have provided a unique ZIP code for Fairlawn that passed the U.S. House of Representatives during the 118th Congress. The Senate did not vote on the bill, however, Griffith said.
Virginia is the only state in the U.S. where all cities are independent from surrounding counties, Griffith’s office said.
The bill would direct the United States Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP code for Fairlawn within 180 days of the bill’s passing.
Are you a Fairlawn resident who has had trouble getting federal storm relief because of your ZIP code? Let us know at news@cardinalnews.org.
