Persistence paid off for Virginia’s governor. After failing in September to win approval from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the state has secured federal disaster assistance for Louisa County residents and businesses affected by the 5.8-magnitude earthquake in August. McDonnell appealed the state’s case all the way to the top when President Obama visited Virginia for a two-day bus tour last month. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management estimated the quake caused more than $15 million in damage and affected 1,400 homes.
