This past week, it was announced by the administration of Governor Glenn Youngkin that $50 million in funding is now being made available to victims of Hurricane Helene and the 2025 February winter storms – both which caused much property damage in our region. I have been working closely with the administration to ensure that these funds are made available to residents of the 42nd House District, to include affected individuals and families in Giles County, Pulaski County, Montgomery County and the City of Radford, many of whom were hit very hard by these storms. I am happy to announce that affected individuals, families, and local governments in all four localities may be eligible for financial assistance.
The Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund is available to homeowners and business owners of real property that was totally destroyed or suffered major damage during Helene and/or the winter storms that hit our region in 2025. Assistance will also support mitigation projects that strengthen homes, properties, bridges, and community infrastructure to better withstand future disasters. This funding, made possible by the Virginia General Assembly and authorized by Governor Youngkin, involves a two-pronged approach that helps reimburse residents for real property damage while also helping communities enact strategies that prevent future flooding events or enhance community safety. Such usages of this funding by localities can include culvert improvements, retaining walls to ensure slope stability, the purchase of large generators to power emergency centers, or even sensors for stream monitoring that can help predict flooding. All in all, this is substantial funding that all affected individuals and local governments in the 42nd House District should apply for immediately.
The Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund is a great example of the Commonwealth’s responsiveness to the needs of its citizens. Once the scale of the damage from these storms was assessed, I – along with fellow elected officials in the region – lobbied our colleagues in the General Assembly and state agencies consistently for any and all resources necessary to ensure that individuals, families, and local governments were able to get back on their feet without having to wait several years for money to be made available.
We are just shy of the one-year mark for when Helene impacted our region, and only several months removed from the ice storms of February of 2025. In terms of government funding, this is a swift reaction time. It demonstrates the commitment of our state government to its citizens, and it was a product of close collaboration between local and state elected officials. I am very pleased that this much-needed funding is now available to those who need it, and I am proud to have played a part in bringing this grant money to our region.
If your real property was affected by either Hurricane Helene or the 2025 February winter storm, it is vitally important that you apply for funding immediately to ensure that you are covered. For more information on eligibility criteria, guidelines, and application procedures, please visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov/disaster-assistance. Do not delay – apply today to ensure that you get the financial assistance that you need to make up for any losses you may have incurred.
As the Delegate representing the 42nd House District in the Virginia General Assembly, your concerns are my greatest priority. If ever I may be of assistance to you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at DelJBallard@House.Virginia.Gov. You can also follow me on Twitter @JasonBallardVA or like my Facebook page, Jason Ballard for Delegate, to keep up to date with what I am doing in Richmond and in our community on your behalf.
