Virginia’s Disaster Fund Now Open to Home and Business Owners

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the state’s $50 million disaster aid fund is now accepting applications from homeowners and businesses in the southwest region of the state.

The Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund, which Youngkin proposed and the General Assembly approved, aims to provide financial relief and long-term resilience to Virginians affected by recent natural disasters.

While currently the fund is open to southwest communities, it will be available for other communities throughout the state in case of future events.

Funds are available to homeowners and business owners of real property that was totally destroyed or suffered major damage in 2024’s Hurricane Helene or the February 2025 winter storms. Assistance will also support mitigation projects that strengthen homes, properties, bridges, and community infrastructure to better withstand future disasters.

Localities eligible for aid include Bland County, Buchanan County, Dickenson County, Floyd County, Giles County, Lee County, Montgomery County, Pulaski County, Russell County, Scott County, Smyth County, Tazewell County, Washington County, Wise County and Wythe County, as well as the cities of Bristol, Galax, Norton, and Radford.

The state’s disaster aid funding is distributed through local governments and Planning District Commissions. To apply for the funds, residents should contact their local government or regional Planning District Commission. Applications are now open for home and property loss or major damage, along with bridge reconstruction and slope mitigation

Hurricane Helene struck Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia in September 2024. The storm caused about 250 deaths, according to the National Weather Service. Many who died in Helene fell victim to massive inland flooding. Helene was the deadliest U.S. hurricane since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Helene caused more than 310,000 Virginians to lose power due to severe damage to electric distribution infrastructure and closed almost 500 primary and secondary roads and 118 bridges. Agriculture suffered $630 million in financial impacts, affecting nearly 3,700 farms, according to the state.

In February 2025, areas of Southwest Virginia, some of which were still recovering from Helene, were deluged with more than seven inches of rain. Life-threatening flash flooding occurred across what Youngkin said are some of the state’s most vulnerable and least resourced areas, resulting in historic river crests on the James River and other major waterways.

The towns of Grundy and Hurley in Buchanan County experienced catastrophic flooding, with the river gauges in these towns spiking historical flood levels. The state reported that the February 2025 storms caused critical infrastructure damage and closed more than 270 roads due to low water bridge and road washouts.

Topics Virginia