The NBC29 newsroom received the following press release from the Office of Governor Bob McDonnell:
Press Release:
Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that individuals in six additional localities are now eligible for federal disaster aid to help them recover from a 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Virginia on Aug. 23 and led to more than 50 aftershocks. Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland, Orange and Spotsylvania counties and the city of Fredericksburg join Louisa County in eligibility for the Individual Assistance Program.
In addition, federal Public Assistance was approved to help Northampton and Culpeper counties recover costs associated with emergency response and damage to critical infrastructure.
"State and federal officials have been assessing earthquake damage across the Commonwealth since August," Governor McDonnell said. "I am pleased that FEMA has made this important assistance available to more of those who have suffered personal losses and have been working to recover for the past few months."
The federal Individual Assistance Program provides disaster housing assistance, low-interest loans and grants. Individuals and families in need of earthquake recovery aid can register immediately by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585, or go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week (The hotline will be closed Jan. 1 for the New Year's holiday.) Online registration is available at any time. Those with smart phones or other mobile devices also can register at m.fema.gov.
Residents also can visit the Louisa County Disaster Recovery Center at Triangle Plaza, 502 E. Main St., Suite 6000 (former Video 2000 store), in Louisa, which will reopen at 10 a.m., Jan. 5. State and federal officials will open a Disaster Recovery Center in Spotsylvania in the coming days.
Business owners can apply to FEMA for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Those applying should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, social security number, address and phone number), insurance coverage and information to help substantiate losses.
FEMA did not approve the governor's request to make Individual Assistance available in Albemarle and King George counties. Residents in these counties and other areas in the state not included in this declaration should contact their local emergency manager to learn about volunteer groups in their area. Volunteer groups have been active statewide during 2011, helping Virginians recover from disasters where state and federal governments have been unable to assist.
Individual Assistance was approved for Louisa on Nov. 4 after Governor McDonnell appealed FEMA's initial denial for Individual Assistance for Louisa County. Since that time, other localities have been added.
