Accomack County Denied FEMA Assistance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 29, 2012

CONTACT: Bob Spieldenner
 (804) 674-2400 bob.spieldenner@vdem.virginia.gov

FEMA denies disaster assistance for Accomack County

RICHMOND, Va. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied Virginia’s request for Individual Assistance to help property owners in Accomack County affected by Hurricane Sandy.

“I am disappointed that residents of Accomack County will not receive the federal disaster relief they desperately need in the wake of Hurricane Sandy,” said Governor Bob McDonnell. “I personally visited the county in the days after the storm and met individually with a number of citizens who suffered severe flooding and damage from the storm. They need federal help.

Unfortunately, that help has not been approved. We will continue to look for all ways by which to help our fellow Virginians in need.  One means is through donations to the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund, and I encourage Virginians who want to help the residents of Accomack to use the fund to get involved and help out.”

The federal Individual Assistance Program would have made funding available to homeowners, renters and businesses in the form of low-interest loans and grants, unemployment assistance, disaster housing assistance and crisis counseling. 

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management will make a recommendation to Governor McDonnell on whether to appeal FEMA’s denial or to apply for disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration.

If a request for SBA assistance is approved, loans up to $200,000 would be available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.  Homeowners and renters would be eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.  Businesses and nonprofit organizations of any size could apply for loans up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Tax deductible donations to the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund may be made at https://payments.vi.virginia.gov/donatenow.

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Federal Disaster Assistance Approved To Aid State & Local Governments

Federal Disaster Assistance Approved to Aid State and Local Governments with Recovery Costs from Hurricane Sandy

– Individual Assistance for those in Accomack County Remains under Consideration –

RICHMOND-Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that his request for federal disaster assistance to help local and state governments recover from the impact of Hurricane Sandy has been approved by President Obama. Assistance for individuals in Accomack County also was requested by Governor McDonnell and is still under consideration.

FEMA's Public Assistance Program was approved for the counties of Accomack, Arlington, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Essex, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, King and Queen, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Mathews, Middlesex, Nelson, Northampton, Northumberland, Prince William, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Surry, Warren and Westmoreland and the cities of Fairfax, Falls Church and Manassas. Additional local governments can be added at a later date if sufficient damage information is collected.

FEMA's Public Assistance Program makes funding available to reimburse state and local governments for costs associated with response and recovery efforts, such as debris removal and related emergency services, as well as the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

"I thank President Obama for his prompt decision to grant federal disaster assistance for local and state governments. This action will go a long way toward reimbursing local governments for their costs," said Governor McDonnell. "I encourage FEMA to take a close look at the situation in Accomack County where a disproportionate number of citizens were affected by Hurricane Sandy and to move to approve individual assistance for them as soon as possible."

Emergency management officials at the state and local levels have been working with volunteer groups to assist people who suffered damage from Hurricane Sandy. Homeowners and renters should report damage to their local emergency management officials, who may be aware of volunteer groups in their communities that are actively assisting with clean up and repair efforts.

In addition, Governor McDonnell announced that FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program was approved for all Virginia localities.

This funding source helps local and state governments take actions to reduce the impact of future disasters, such as elevating homes in flood zones, flood-proofing businesses and other measures.

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