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Dozens of communities in southwest Virginia have been placed under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s major disaster declaration, about a month after the remnants of Hurricane Helene ravaged the region.

That statement, updated Oct. 26, opens up federal funding to people in seventeen counties as they recover from Helene’s damage.

People affected by flooding and wind damage from Helene in the following counties can now apply for federal assistance: Bedford, Bland, Carroll, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe the counties and cities of Galax and Radford.

The deadline to apply for individual support is Monday 2 December.

Residents who suffered Helene-related losses in those counties can begin requesting individual assistance at or https://www.disasterassistance.gov/by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or using the FEMA app.

The federal agency has opened eight disaster recovery centers in southwest Virginia in the past month, with a ninth expected to open Friday in Galax. Residents can visit FEMA.gov/drc or text DRC and a zip code to 43362 to find the nearest disaster recovery center.

What can FEMA help cover?

FEMA can help people in Southwest Virginia who were affected by Helene to pay for essential items, temporary housing, home repairs and other needs due to the disaster. These other needs may include:

• Essential items such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, nursing supplies, diapers, medical supplies and equipment, personal hygiene items, and transportation fuel;
• Financial assistance to help pay for hotel stays, stays with family and friends, or other options while searching for a rental unit, as well as rental assistance if a person is displaced by the disaster;
• Repair or replacement of a vehicle, household appliances, room furniture, personal or family computer;
• Books, uniforms, tools, computers and other items needed for school or work, including self-employment; and
• Moving and storage fees, medical expenses, child care and funeral expenses.

FEMA also encourages Virginians in the seventeen localities mentioned above to save their repair and recovery receipts to claim reimbursement for these costs. For home repairs, FEMA can cover the costs of the following:

• The cost of a professional, licensed technician to visit your home and prepare an estimate for repairs or replacement of disaster damaged systems and uninsured or underinsured losses and;
• Costs for rebuilding or basic repairs so that your home is safe, sanitary and functional. This includes replacing or repairing disaster-damaged:
  • Ovens, hot water heaters, refrigerators and stoves
  • Leaks in a roof that damage ceilings
  • Floors in occupied areas of the home
  • Broken windows
  • Well and septic system, and;
  • Generators or chainsaws you bought or rented because of storm damage.

As of Tuesday, FEMA has approved more than $8 million in housing and other assistance for more than 2,700 Virginia households. More than $1.2 billion has been paid out so far in the U.S. to survivors of both Hurricanes Helene and Milton, according to the federal agency.

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