The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied Virginia’s request to get federal disaster relief funds for counties hit with severe tornado damage.
Tornadoes devastated much of the South in April, killing hundreds and causing massive destruction, especially in Alabama. In Virginia, 10 people died, 212 homes were destroyed and more than 1,000 were damaged.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency during the storms and requested disaster assistance for Halifax, Pulaski and Washington counties. FEMA has denied that request, the governor’s office said in a statement Saturday.
“We are very disappointed that FEMA did not grant disaster assistance for Virginians still working to recover from the tornadoes,” McDonnell said Saturday in the statement. He said the state was considering appealing that decision.
Though central and southern Virginia suffered damage in the storms, the northern part of the state and most of the D.C. region were spared.
