Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced on Tuesday that $7.3 million in federal funds will be disbursed across Giles and Washington counties and the town of Fries in Grayson County to rebuild and repair housing and infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene-related weather.
Giles and Washington counties will each receive $3.5 million for the repair, rehabilitation, reconstruction and replacement of disaster-damaged homes for low- and moderate-income households. The town of Fries will receive $322,712 for the installation of a generator at its water treatment facility to avoid water service outages during future disasters.
“Tropical Storm Helene delivered historic and devastating impacts to Southwest Virginia — washing out roads, damaging homes, and overwhelming local infrastructure in ways that no community could — or should have to — shoulder alone,” Spanberger said in a statement.
“As Virginians continue rebuilding their lives, these disaster relief grants will help provide families and localities with the long-term support they need to fully recover. I am committed to supporting these communities, restoring what was lost, and building resilience so that when future storms come, Virginia is better prepared.”
The remnants of Hurricane Helene swept through Southwest Virginia in late September 2024. The storm brought heavy winds and dumped 4 to 10 inches of rain, or more, over three days and left widespread flooding in its wake.
The $7.3 million grant program is the latest in a series of federal and state programs aimed at storm recovery in Southwest Virginia following Hurricane Helene. In 2025, the General Assembly appropriated $50 million toward recovery, though disbursal of those funds has been slow-moving.
Tens of millions of dollars have also been allocated between 2025 and 2026 from the federal government to support recovery efforts, including home repair and rebuilding, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
“Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene devastated our communities, I am glad to see that the state and federal government have not forgotten what Southwest Virginia went through,” said state Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Washington County.
Who can get help?
The commonwealth received the funds near the end of 2025 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief program. The governor’s office said that the length of time it took to set up the state grant program — between late 2025, when the money was received, and July 2026, when the program was announced — is typical when dealing with federal money.
The program aims to assist communities as they recover from Hurricane Helene-related weather and to mitigate risks from future hazards. Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development will administer the state grant program.
“This funding plays a critical role in filling the gaps that remain long after the immediate crisis has passed,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery said in a statement. “These coordinated and deployed investments ensure the households that are often the hardest hit and the last to recover receive the assistance they need.”
She added that mitigation requirements tied to the funding are designed to address long-standing vulnerabilities and reduce future risk.
DHCD Director Tamarah Holmes said in a statement that her department is “committed to ensuring these dollars are delivered efficiently, transparently, and equitably so communities can rebuild safer, stronger, and with greater resilience.”
“We look forward to working closely with local partners in Giles County, Washington County, the town of Fries and other eligible localities as they move forward in their long-term recovery,” she said.
Recipients of the grant money in Giles and Washington counties fall into three categories: those seeking minor repairs to Hurricane Helene-related damage on a home, those seeking rehabilitation of a home, and those seeking substantial reconstruction or new construction of a home.
Recipients can receive up to $25,000 for minor repairs, including mold remediation, roof repair or replacement, replacement of windows and doors, mechanical, electrical or plumbing repairs, or other work to stabilize the home and address health, safety or weatherproofing needs. Up to $125,000 can be received for comprehensive repair and rehabilitation of a home damaged by Hurricane Helene, and up to $150,000 can be received for reconstruction of a home damaged by the storm.
Residents seeking assistance will need to complete an application and provide home ownership and damage documentation. Eligible applicants include homeowners or a landlord of a rental property that can show that the dwelling sustained damage from Hurricane Helene-related weather.
Applicants must also be below the low- and moderate-income threshold for their locality. That threshold is typically 80% of the area median household income. In Giles County, that threshold would be roughly $52,552, and in Washington County, the threshold would be roughly $51,641.
Lawmakers and local leaders express gratitude — and frustration
Del. Mitchell Cornett, R-Grayson County, was serving on the Grayson County Board of Supervisors when Hurricane Helene hit and saw firsthand the damage it left behind in Fries.
“Recovery isn’t just about replacing what was lost. It’s about making sure our communities are stronger and better prepared for the future. This disaster relief grant is another positive step in that effort. Having a backup generator for the town’s water treatment facility will help protect a vital service and better prepare the town for future emergencies,” he said in a statement.
Del. Jason Ballard, R-Giles County, added that the county was hit “exceptionally hard” by Hurricane Helene and that many residents are still dealing with the aftermath of the historic storm.
“I saw firsthand the devastation that the floodwaters caused to homes — many families lost almost everything they owned. In spite of this, affected residents showed resiliency and helped each other pick up the pieces,” he said in a statement.
And state Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, who represents the town of Fries, called the grant to purchase a generator for the town’s water facility an example of good government.
“It’s great news, something we’ve all been working on which is doing our best to help Fries get put back together after Hurricane Helene. And this is one of those big, significant steps towards making sure that everybody in the town is going to have clean water and that the generators won’t fail if there’s another catastrophic event,” he said during a phone interview.
But Chris Bell, the town manager in Damascus, said that he lacks clarity on exactly how or when the funds will be allocated and spent to assist the residents of Damascus and greater Washington County. Damascus was one of the areas hardest hit by the storm and flooding.
He expressed frustration with the slow-moving bureaucratic process that his town has had to wade through while working to secure other recovery assistance. Among the town’s most pressing needs: a backup generator.
“As we approach the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, the recovery needs remain urgent and deeply visible,” Bell said via email.
“While I applaud both Governor Youngkin and Governor Spanberger for their commitment to allocating disaster relief funds to help our commonwealth’s citizens, the current distribution mechanism is flawed. Routing these vital funds through the CDBG-DR program — a system that is notoriously complex, slow, and understaffed — is very frustrating,” he continued.
“I understand and respect the necessity of strict rules, transparency, and accountability when handling taxpayer dollars. However, when the overwhelming complexity of the process actively stalls preventative, life-saving infrastructure, the system is failing the very people it is meant to protect. We need streamlined action before the next storm hits, not more red tape.”
