One month after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake startled the East Coast, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is asking for federal help to pay for the damage. The Republican’s administration is also close to deciding whether to apply for aid following Tropical Storm Lee’s destructive floods.
McDonnell requested federal aid for Louisa County through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance Program, which allows residents to apply for grants, low-interest loans and housing assistance.
The epicenter of the Aug. 23 quake — the strongest to hit the Eastern U.S. since 1944 — was near the town of Mineral in Louisa County. McDonnell declared a state of emergency on Aug. 26.
The state also asked the federal government for unemployment assistance, legal services and crisis counseling for Louisa County residents, and for Hazard Mitigation Assistance, a program that helps localities lessen the impact of future disasters.
Virginia officials decided not to seek federal aid for homeowners following Hurricane Irene — another August natural disaster — because a high percentage of the affected properties had insurance covering wind damage and likely wouldn’t qualify.
Virginia Department of Emergency Management spokesman Bob Spieldenner expects McDonnell to decide by next week whether to seek funding for the cleanup from remnants of Tropical Storm Lee this month. That storm caused flooding in Fairfax and Prince William counties that local governments estimate will cost millions of dollars to repair.
There is no guarantee FEMA will approve the state’s most recent request, Spieldenner said, but he believes Virginia qualifies for aid because so few of the affected homes had earthquake insurance. It could take weeks to get an answer.
Virginia officials provided no estimates of earthquake damage, but roughly 1,000 homes were affected.
Assessments of the earthquake’s aftermath took longer than usual because such events are rare in Virginia. Earthquake damage is more difficult to detect than damage from floods or tornadoes.
The state asked for help from federal engineers after officials “realized we didn’t have the expertise,” Spieldenner said.
