President Joe Biden approved major disaster declarations for a major flooding incident in Virginia in July.
FEMA announced on Friday that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the Commonwealth of Virginia to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the flooding and mudslides from July 13 and 14 of this year.
Governor Glenn Youngkin said the declaration provides federal support through Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation grant programs to assist in recovery efforts and protect against future disasters.
“I would like to thank FEMA for approving Virginia’s request for federal assistance,” said Youngkin. “While we await the decision on our request for Individual Assistance to support the residents that were impacted, we are grateful to have this assistance to help us restore infrastructure and services in the impacted areas. As Governor, I will continue to do everything we can to support these communities.”
Public assistance federal funding is available to the Commonwealth, eligible local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and repair or replacement of facilities, including direct federal assistance under public assistance in Buchanan and Tazewell counties.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
With this approval, local, state, and private non-profit organizations with infrastructure damage or emergency and debris removal expenditures, may apply to FEMA for reimbursement of 75 percent of eligible costs. The FEMA Public Assistance program could take years to be fully reimbursed for disaster-related expenditures. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is the administrative agency for this grant program.
With this approval, Virginia will receive funding for projects to reduce future flooding. This program could take 5-7 years to implement. The application phase of this program is 12 months, and then FEMA may take 6-18 months to award the project based on environmental and historic review compliance or technical feasibility review. Federal assistance is approved at 75 percent of the total eligible project costs. Local governments and state agencies will apply through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management as the administrating agency.
Charles Monroe Maltbie III has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas. Additional designations may be made at a later date.
A decision on the potential award of Individual Assistance is still pending.