RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) – Cleanup efforts are still underway in some parts of Southwest Virginia after Hurricane Helene devastated many communities.
Governor Glenn Youngkin held a press conference Thursday in Richmond to discuss the impact Hurricane Helene had on Virginians, and he said the state is hoping to secure federal funding for residents.
At the press conference, Youngkin expressed gratitude for all the work that’s been done to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. He also discussed what’s next for cleanup efforts, saying while a lot has been accomplished, there’s still so much that needs to be done.
“We have a lot of work still to do. There are a lot of people who are still in need of support, and I just thank you all for your unfailing commitment to provide that support,” said Youngkin.
Youngkin said $20 million in federal money is already in the hands of Virginia’s hurricane victims.
“We’ve also had two important future grants that have come, one for flood mitigation and the other for hazard mitigation. Going forward, they total $59 million that will be put to work in order to help prevent future damage from future emergencies.”
He said the state is managing personal debris removal and has already completed 10% of debris cleanup at Claytor Lake.
“It’s really important to get this taken care of quickly. A lot of people, their livelihood, but also their homes are on Claytor Lake, and so it is a big project, and one that is moving quickly.”
He said 10,000 people have applied for FEMA assistance and they’re making progress with home inspections. But there are still thousands of applications that need to be addressed.
“There is a lot to do. And so, I don’t mean to suggest that we are anywhere near the end of this, but at this moment, I just deeply appreciate the work that everyone is doing,” he said.
Youngkin said there is a final deadline to file for FEMA individual assistance. He’s encouraging people apply before December 2.
Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.