Helene
Hurricane Helene ravaged communities in Appalachia. The storm raced through the Southeast on its way to Virginia. Our area was hit hard!
Localities in the Ninth District were a target of fierce storms, tornado watches and flash flood warnings. Two deaths were confirmed.
Over the past week, I met with so many people impacted by the storm and its aftermath. Even in areas where damage wasn’t as great, downed powerlines and telephone outages are wreaking havoc on people’s lives. The people of Virginia have stepped up to help their neighbors recover, and moments like this highlight the importance of communities coming together.
I made several visits the weekend of September 28-29 to inspect and survey the damage inflicted by Helene. I met with Governor Youngkin and others on parts of that tour.
We went to Damascus in Washington County to thank our first responders and to get a firsthand look at the damage there. Houses were not only flooded but displaced. Looking at some damage it was unbelievable how cars were somehow smashed underneath houses.
A large part of the asphalt from the Damascus main street was lifted up and deposited 20-30 feet, with yellow lines intact, into someone’s yard.
After Damascus, Josh Hess, my district director, and I were each driving to Independence. Josh is ok, but his car got stuck in a sinkhole. Luckily, with the help of several bystanders and a tractor, they got his vehicle out.
I did not know of his predicament because most of the cell service in Southwest Virginia was not functioning. For hours, I did not know what happened or where Josh was. This was very typical in Southwest Virginia.
When I got to Independence, I was advised that 42 roads in Grayson County were closed. I had witnessed closures on US 58 and US 21. Outside of Independence, 80-85% of the road had collapsed.
The following day, Governor Youngkin returned. I met him in Independence, where we got a briefing, saw some damage, then went to Fries and saw where three large trees – including their root-balls and other debris – struck the low-water bridge, displacing it from its moorings.
Accordingly, Fries now only has one way in and out.
A tornado was confirmed in Bedford County. Montgomery County is on a boil notice.
Later that week I visited Bland, Smyth, Wythe, Montgomery, and Tazewell Counties and got a tour of the damage on Claytor Lake. At a couple of these stops, media were present. But I went to many places where press did not follow, because it was important to me to be anywhere that people are hurting.
Rainfall exceeded 12 inches in some areas and with the water from North Carolina flowing north in the New, it created an historic flood crest on the New River, from Grayson to Giles at the West Virginia border.
Further, many communities lost power for days.
Governor Youngkin is to be commended. He was quick to make a state of emergency declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia. I received a phone call from him on Wednesday before Helene hit on Friday. He was pre-positioning emergency resources and swift water teams from across the state.
As of Monday, September 30, more than 70 rescues took place.
Governor Youngkin submitted a request to President Biden for a Federal Emergency Declaration. I wrote in support of Governor Youngkin’s request, along with Virginia’s two U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
President Biden approved Virginia’s request, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide direct federal support for life-saving activities and other emergency protective measures. Such measures include evacuation, sheltering and search and rescue.
Subsequently, the two U.S. Senators and I have supported Governor Youngkin’s request for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration designation, which was approved by Biden on October 2.
As we move forward, FEMA efforts to help will vary across the board, from individual assistance, agricultural and farm damage and business relief to road repair and cleanup.
My heart breaks for our communities who must face significant hardships in the weeks and months to follow.
It is important that any and all damages are documented and reported to the appropriate local emergency response officials. Such documentation allows our local officials to provide data on the damages and influence the amount of aid that comes to the region.
The Governor is continuing to work hard and assist. But I and our two Senators will make sure we do everything possible to contribute to federal response and recovery efforts.
If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov.
