December 10, 2009

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Thursday that federal disaster aid has been made available for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The aid will supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas struck by severe storms and flooding associated with Tropical Depression Ida beginning on November 11, 2009, and continuing.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of counties of Halifax, Isle of Wight, King and Queen, Northampton, and Surry and the independent cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties within the commonwealth.

Donald L. Keldsen has been named the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Keldsen said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.