Governor McDonnell Asks for Additional Earthquake Recovery Assistance for Homeowners and Local Governments

December 22, 2011

by Virginia RealEstateRama

Category: News || Grants, Housing & Development | No Comments

RICHMOND – December 22, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Bob McDonnell today asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to approve disaster assistance for nine additional localities recovering from the 5.8 magnitude earthquake on Aug. 23 and the more than 50 aftershocks.

The request includes Individual Assistance in the counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland, King George, Orange and Spotsylvania and the city of Fredericksburg. Individual Assistance provides grants to homeowners for home repair and disaster housing as well as low interest loans.

Additionally, the Governor has requested that Northampton and Culpeper counties be added for Public Assistance to help those local governments recover costs associated with emergency response to the earthquake such as damage to critical infrastructure and related emergency services.

“We have been working with local governments since Louisa County was approved for FEMA assistance to identify significant earthquake damage in other jurisdictions,” said Governor McDonnell. “Our damage assessment teams found more than 130 homes in other localities with major damages, including two homes that were destroyed by the quake.”

Louisa County, where the earthquake was centered, was approved for Individual Assistance on Nov. 4 and for Public Assistance on Nov. 10. Spotsylvania was approved for Public Assistance on Nov. 18, as was the city of Fredericksburg on Dec. 6.

The deadline for renters, homeowners and business owners in Louisa County to register for state and federal disaster assistance has been extended to March 5.

So far, more than $6.6 million has been approved for individuals in Louisa County. Funds have been approved to repair damage that includes Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and Louisa County High School. Also, about $1.6 million has been approved by the Small Business Administration in the form of low-interest loans to approximately 50 individuals and businesses.

Contact:
Jeff Caldwell
Press Secretary
(804) 786-2211

Bob Spieldenner
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
(804) 897-6510
www.vaemergency.gov