(Richmond) — Governor Glenn Youngkin says he’ll try to add Pittsylvania County to the list of localities eligible for federal storm assistance after the remnants of Hurricane Helene roared through the area.
Over the weekend, Pulaski and Montgomery Counties were added to the federal major disaster declaration that was originally issued last week. They join Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wythe Counties and the city of Galax. Residents and businesses, even Government agencies that suffered Helene-related losses in those counties can apply for individual assistance with FEMA.
Local, state, and federal officials have identified 519 homes that were damaged in those nine counties. 44 were destroyed, 161 had major damage, 146 reported minor damage and 168 that were affected in other ways.
Two tornadoes spawned by Helene were reported a week ago Friday in Pittsylvania County. One was an EF-2 tornado in Dry Fork that stayed on the ground for seven miles with winds of 118 miles per hour. Thirty structures were damaged and a mobile home was destroyed. A woman living in the mobile home was hurt.
A small smaller EF-1 tornado touched the ground briefly in Keeling about two hours later. No one was hurt.
Governor Youngkin wants Pittsylvania County and some other localities, added to the federal disaster list.