Joint Federal/Commonwealth Disaster Field Office
11551 Nuchols Road
Glen Allen, VA 23059-5565
DR-1544-VA
Tropical Depression Gaston Commonwealth Situation Report #21
As of 1400 hours, Friday, October 29, 2004

SITUATION

• Governor Mark Warner declared a state of emergency for Virginia Monday 30 August 2004 and requested Federal Assistance 1 September 2004 as a result of the impact of Tropical Depression Gaston on Central Virginia on 30-31 August 2004.
• On 3 September 2004, President Bush declared a Major Disaster for Virginia. The President authorized Individual Assistance for the cities of Richmond, Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Petersburg and the Counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Hanover, Henrico and Prince George and federal hazard mitigation assistance for all cities and counties in the Commonwealth.
• A joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) for IA eligible damages caused by tornadoes on 17 September spawned by Hurricane Ivan was conducted on 22 September in Prince William and Fauquier Counties and in Greene County on 23 September. Preliminary results of the PDAs indicate there were very few uninsured losses in any of the counties.
• The joint FEMA/Commonwealth Disaster Field Office continues to provide outreach to individuals, businesses and communities in the areas impacted by Gaston.
• Disaster assistance has been approved for the following "add-on" counties: Public Assistance: King William and New Kent; Individual Assistance: King William, New Kent and Charles City.
• The Public Assistance (PA) Program was added on 6 September for the cities of Richmond and Colonial Heights and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico.
• VDOT reports 9 road closures related to TD Gaston as of 29 October 2004.
• The Disaster Field Office is planned to close Nov 5, 2004.
  

1. WEATHER FORECAST FOR VIRGINIA (Forecast period, Oct. 29 through Nov. 3)

• Showers evening Oct. 29, partly cloudy to sunny thereafter, chance of thunderstorms on election day, lows in 50's and highs in mid 70's, light to moderate winds throughout period.

2. STATE PRIORITIES

• Outreach to affected population
• Safety and protection of disaster victims and workers
• Manage public expectations
• Share information and coordinate with state, federal and local agencies.
  

3. RECOVERY ACTIVITIES

A. Human Services: Application Period: 3 September through 28 October 2004. The last day for applying for Individual Assistance (IA) is 2 November 2004.

• INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (as of COB 10/28/04)

Total Registrations	5,077
Registrations since last report	77
Individuals and Households Program (IHP) Totals
Registrations approved	2,892
Payments approved ($) (HA+ONA)	7,612,417.92
Payments disbursed ($) (HA+ONA)	7,608,743.52
Housing Assistance (HA)
Total amount approved ($)	5,387,215.74
Payments disbursed ($)	5,391,048.64
Number approved	2,723
Average award ($)	2,183.10
Home Inspections completed	3,711
Inspectors in the field	2
Turnaround time	3.08 days
Other Needs Assistance (ONA)
Number referred	1,902
Number approved	912
Amount approved ($)	2,225,202.18
Amount disbursed	2,217,694.88
Average award ($)	2,349.91
Small Business Adm. (SBA)
Home apps issued	3,197
Business apps issued	477
Economic Injury apps	0
Total apps issued	3,674
Apps returned
Loans approved	123
Total amount approved ($)	3,698,000.00
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
Number of apps/number approved/number denied	24/16/8
Total amount paid out COB 25 October, 2004 ($)	9,697

TELEREGISTRATIONS:

Designated Counties	Since Last Sitrep	Cumulative
Charles City	0	5
Chesterfield (County)	8	549
Colonial Heights	0	24
Dinwiddie (County)	1	14
Hanover (County)	8	383
Henrico (County)	27	1,389
Hopewell	0	14
King William County	0	30
New Kent County	2	16
Petersburg	0	20
Prince George (County)	0	7
Richmond (City)	26	2,397
TOTAL	72	4,842

• Volunteer Organizations:
  • All actions completed.
    
    
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance: (See data above.)
  • Sixteen applications were paid for a total of $9,697 as of COB Oct 29 2004.
  • Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) continues to accept applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) at area VEC offices. Deadlines for applications are: Oct 6 for the initial declared jurisdictions and expired on 21 October for the add-on jurisdictions.
    
    
• Virginia Department of Health:
  
  • Office of Chief Medical Examiner's office confirms 9 deaths related to Gaston, 3 in City of Richmond, 1 in Chesterfield County, 3 in Hanover County (1 died at MCV), 1 in Henrico County and 1 in Dinwiddie County.
    

B. Public Assistance (PA)

• Eligible RPAs Received	26
  Number PWs	385
  Total Amount PWs ($)	18,492,426.46
  Total Amount Obligated	6,655,323.21

  
  Payments have been disbursed to the following PA applicants:
  • Chesterfield County
  • Colonial Heights City
  • Hanover County
  • Henrico County
  • Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
  • Richmond City
  • Richmond City Public Schools
  • Richmond Metropolitan Authority
  • Virginia Capitol Police
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
  • Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries
  • Virginia Dept. of Juvenile Justice
  • Virginia Department of State Police
  • Virginia Department of Transportation
    

C. Mitigation

• Department of Conservation & Recreation Floodplain Management staff have conducted one Community Compliance and Mitigation visit to Dinwiddie County. A visit to Chesterfield County was completed October 28. The NFIP staff and FEMA have contacted other jurisdictions to schedule compliance visits and continue to prepare for visits by reviewing floodplain ordinances and surveying floodplain areas.
• A Flood Insurance Forum has been set for 3 November 2004 at the Richmond downtown OMNI. A workshop will target insurance agents, realtors, surveyors, mortgage lenders and local government officials focusing on the National Flood Insurance Program. An invitation letter has been sent to local government officials in zoning, building and planning offices. To date, 50 have registered.
  

D. Legislative Liaison

• Received one inquiry Oct 27 for Individual Assistance. Advised victim apply for SBA loan and subsequently possible ONA assistance.

E. Public Affairs

• Distributed news release on "money for Public Assistance" Oct.27, 2004.
  

F. State Coordinating Officer

Staffing adjustments continue in state personnel assigned to DFO.

• VDEM	9
  VDOT	1
  Social Services	6
  Conservation & Recreation	2
  Total	18

• The Disaster Field Office operational hours are 0800 hrs to 1700 hrs, Monday through Friday and 0800 hrs to 1200 hrs on Saturday.
• State DFO staff meets daily with Deputy SCO at 0800. The office is scheduled to close on Nov.5, 2004.
• The last Situation Report will be issued on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2004.
  

F. State Contacts (at DFO)

Deputy SCO	Mary Camp	804 270-5351
Finance/Logistics	Sandra Haizlip	804-270-5377
State Administration	Daphnane Phillips	804 270-3127
Information and Planning	Warren Theis	804 270-3121
Human Services	Larry Braja	804 270-3624
Hazard Mitigation	Deborah Mills	804-270-3951
Public Assistance	Bob Anderson	804-270-4347
Legislative Liaison	George Urquhart	804 270-3369

Authority of Mary Camp, Deputy State Coordinating Officer

back to newsroom