Southwest Virginia Flooding

Renters, homeowners, nonprofits and business owners can continue to apply for Helene-related assistance during a 60-day grace period after the Dec. 2 deadline.

Virginia’s two Democratic U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, had hoped that the disaster relief supplemental bill would have been voted on this week.

Small-business owners in Damascus, and across Helene’s track through Southwest Virginia, should be eligible for loans through the Small Business Administration. But there’s no money left.

World-famous luthier Wayne Henderson, who has built guitars for music luminaries including Eric Clapton, crafted a guitar to be auctioned off to help the rescue squad. It sold for $59,000.

The series, which will feature four live shows and one streaming event, kicks off Thursday at the Grandin Theatre in Roanoke.

The request, sent via letter on Friday, is a first look at the total cost of the damage to Southwest Virginia following Hurricane Helene.

FEMA has encouraged residents who live in the 17 localities eligible for aid to apply by Dec. 2.

A stretch from Fancy Gap to the state line had been closed even after the rest of the Virginia portion of the road reopened.

The list of localities declared to have sustained a major disaster has grown to include nearly all of Southwest Virginia over the last month.