Governor Gilmore Requests Federal Assistance for Southwest Virginia Areas Hit by Flood

RICHMOND - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced that he is officially requesting that President Bush issue a major disaster declaration for counties in Southwest Virginia hit hard by recent flooding. Disaster aid is being sought for the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wise.

"Today I am requesting that President Bush declare the area eligible for federal disaster assistance," Governor Gilmore said. "Based on my tour of the area Monday and information from citizens and officials, I know how hard the residents and business owners in many areas of Southwest Virginia have been hit by rain, floodwaters and mudslides."

Governor Gilmore is requesting federal aid through the Individual and Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs. If approved by the President, the Individual Assistance Program would make available disaster housing assistance, low interest loans and grants. The Hazard Mitigation Assistance program would help with damage reduction initiatives for future disasters. The federal government would fund some of the requested assistance programs totally, while others would involve a federal-state cost sharing.

"Employees of the Virginia departments of Emergency Management, Forestry, State Police and Transportation, as well as the National Guard, have been assisting Southwest Virginia residents around the clock, and they will continue that mission as part of the area's recovery," Governor Gilmore said. "National Guard helicopters, crews and ground forces have been working throughout the area since Sunday to assist with evacuations and recovery."

Governor Gilmore requested and received federal disaster assistance earlier in July for Tazewell County as a result of severe flooding that occurred in that county on July 8.

A copy of the letter sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency follows.

July 31, 2001

Mr. Joe Allbaugh
Director
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20472
THROUGH: Ms. Marianne C. Jackson, Federal Coordinating Officer
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Dear Mr. Allbaugh:

The Commonwealth of Virginia is in the process of recovering from the severe weather patterns of July 8, 2001, especially in the Tazewell County area (FEMA-1386-DR-VA) that was declared a Presidential Disaster area on July 12, 2001. The Commonwealth continues to experience this severe pattern of weather affecting the Tazewell County area again, as well as other areas in Southwestern Virginia. In Scott County, one fatality has been confirmed as a result of a home being swept away by flash flooding. As recently as July 29, 2001, I declared another state of emergency and the Virginia National Guard, Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management have been involved in the damage assessment and recovery effort.

In order to provide federal disaster assistance to the affected citizens and businesses as quickly as possible, I request that the incident period for FEMA-1386-DR-VA for Tazewell County be reopened and continued from July 8, 2001, and for an expansion of the incident area and geographical area to include the Counties of Dickenson, Scott, Wise, Smyth, Russell, Tazewell, Lee, Buchanan, and Washington, to include this most recent weather pattern of July 26, 2001.

This request is based upon initial reports that have been received from the disaster area, as well as my own first-hand observations in the area.

I have designated Michael M. Cline as the State Coordinating Officer for this disaster.

I look forward to our continued cooperation in this effort.

Very truly yours,

James S. Gilmore, III
Governor of Virginia
JSGIII/ec

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