An example of a request that is not eligible for stimulus funding is the cost of food in a refrigerator that was lost, Youngkin said. Insurance payments that exceed what Federal Emergency Management Agency aid would cover also void federal aid. Sometimes authorities just need more information.

“If you receive a phone call from a 202 number, which is (the area code for) Northern Virginia, Washington DC area, and you keep answering no, there’s a good chance it’s a inspector who is trying to call you or a service assistant applicant who is trying to help you complete your registration,” said Timothy Phiel, FEMA federal coordination officer “If you receive a letter, consider it. an invitation to come back to our (disaster recovery center).

The state has eight disaster recovery centers set up to help with the ongoing response to Helene, which also caused power outages for Appalachian Power customers that peaked at about 282,000 and roads like Route 58 be carried away.

About 10,000 applications for individual aid have been filed and about $10.5 million has already been paid out, Youngkin said.

Thirty-six localities have been approved for public assistance, which offsets the costs of emergency response and cleanup, Youngkin said. Roanoke County is working to be added to that list. Some 93 requests for public assistance have been received, with 19 approved and $20 million already disbursed.

More than 270 farmers have been helped through Farm Recovery Centers, which were created to help with what the Virginia Cooperative Extension said was more than $159 million in Shame to agricultural producers.

Staff debris will be removed from seven counties starting next week, Youngkin added. Claytor Lake remains a priority; so far, about 10% of the debris has been removed. The state received $59 million for flood and hazard mitigation projects to “prevent future damage from future emergencies,” Youngkin said.

The total damage from the storm has not yet been tabulated, Youngkin said. The figure will be shared with the White House and Congress next week to leverage additional funding from the Small Business Administration, Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.