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Virginia Cooperative Extension Hurricane Resources

Virginia Cooperative Extension has developed resources to help families and communities prepare for and respond to flooding and other disasters. These resources include practical guides, emergency checklists, and educational materials designed to enhance resilience and ensure safety as well as information from government agencies.  Reach out to your County Extension Office

USDA Disaster Assistance Programs

Resources State of Virginia

Extension resources

How can I help?

Resources by region

Additional resources


USDA Disaster Assistance Programs

USDA Stakeholder Newsletter Hurricane Helene

For additional Disaster Assistance information and resources that span the full breadth of the Federal Government, we encourage you to visit FEMA.Gov.

USDA Disaster Resource Center - provides information on how to prepare, recover and build long-term resilience during disasters and emergencies.

USDA Hurricane Helene Update

USDA Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool - Learn about USDA disaster assistance programs that might be right for you by completing five simple steps. USDA Disaster Assistance Programs include:

  • Tree Assistance Program (TAP), Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP), Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) help compensate producers for losses caused by natural disasters.
  • Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) help producers with restoring fences, damaged farmland, or forests.
  • Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program provides assistance to communities to address watershed impairments or hazards.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) - Disaster Assistance: USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses that have been hard hit by natural disaster events.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - Disaster Recovery Assistance: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides disaster recovery assistance to farmers, ranchers, landowners and communities through a variety of USDA programs.

Rural Development (RD) - Disaster Assistance - USDA Rural Development Disaster Assistance is crucial for rural communities affected by crises and disasters. It offers essential support to homeowners, businesses, and communities to aid in their recovery and rebuilding process.

Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) – Disaster Assistance: coordinates with state, territory, tribal, and voluntary organizations to provide nutrition assistance to families and individuals affected by a disaster or emergency.


Resources State of Virginia

          Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

          • VDCR Contacts:
            • Abingdon
              Angela W. Ball, PhD
              Western Area Manager – Abingdon, Radford, & Staunton Regional Offices
              Division of Soil and Water
              Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation
              540-487-0132 | angela.ball@dcr.virginia.gov
            • Radford
              Stacy Horton
              Conservation District Coordinator
              Division of Soil and Water Conservation
              Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
              220-C East Main Street
              Radford, VA 24141
              540-553-1945 | stacy.horton@dcr.virginia.gov
          • Soil and Water Conservation District contacts:
          Location Name Title Contact info
          Big Sandy (Buchanan) Jeanne Presley District Manager 276-935-7750
          276-935-7751
          Big Walker (Bland, Wythe) Rachel Havens District Manager 276-484-9365
          Clinch Valley (Russell) Siobhan Nishida District Manager 276-883-5997
          Daniel Boone (Lee) Shawn Morris District Manager 276-346-1531, ext. 3
          Evergreen (Smyth) Mike Horne Senior Conservation Specialist 276-706-3064
          Holston River (Washington) Wayne Turley Office Manager 276-628-8187, ex. 4
          Lonesome Pine (Dickenson, Wise) Landon Johnson Conservation Spec. 276-926-6621
          Mountain Castles (Craig) Tim Miller District Coordinator 540-580-8373
          New River (Carroll, City of Galax, Grayson) Tracy Goodson District Manager 276-601-2105
          Peaks of Otter (Bedford) Terri Bollinger District Manager 540-587-7645
          Pittsylvania (Pittsylvania) Amber Eanes District Manager 434-432-9455, ext. 3079
          Scott Co. (Scott) Matthew Wood Conservation Specialist 276-386-2323
          Skyline (Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski) Cynthia Hancock District Manager 540-381-0071
          Tazewell (Tazewell) Angela McDaniel Operations Manager 276-979-4190

          Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

          Virginia Department of Historic Resources

          Virginia Department of Forestry

          Virginia Department of Emergency Management

          Virginia Department of Health

          Virginia Department of Transportation - Waiver for carriers transporting essential emergency relief supplies or providing emergency restoration of infrastructure services. 


          Extension Resources

          Some of these resources were developed by other Cooperative Extension Systems but offer good general guidance. For further Virginia information, please contact your local office.

          VCE offers resources to help families cope with the stress of disaster recovery:

          • Youth Strong Curriculum - Helping Youth and Families in Times of Disaster and Stress. 
            Although a disaster or other major disruptive event may last for a short period of time, its effects can last for months or even years. In the aftermath of such an event, many adults express concerns about how it might affect youth. Common questions are: “What should I tell youth?” “How can I tell if these events are bothering youth?” “What can I do to help youth cope positively?” This book is designed to help adults address these questions.
          • (4H) After The Storm: A Guide to help Children Cope with the Psychological Effects of a Hurricane.
            This curriculum is designed for agents, parents, volunteers, or teachers and with the goal that this resource can, and will, be used to help support those youth either directly, or indirectly, affected by the storm. To help strengthen the youths emotional health, and to be better prepared to cope with the continued stress of family, school, and community disruptions caused by the storm(s). After The Storm contains information, activities and coping strategies to help adults and children cope with their reactions and feelings resulting from a hurricane and its afterma

          The Extension Disaster Education Network provides some informational materials on natural disasters, as well as addressing trauma with youth following a natural disaster:


          How you can help

          Giles County Volunteer Sign-up

           


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          Resources by Region

          General Resources

           

          Southwest Virginia Agriculture Relief Program

          Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Cattlemen's Association, Virginia Farm Bureau, and others are here to help farmers impacted by Helene. Let us know what resources you need including hay, feed, and fencing materials:
          Agriculture Needs for Producers Affected by Helene in Virginia

          If you are interested in donating agricultural materials to farmers in need, please fill out this form. Donations for Farmers Affected by Helene in Virginia

          Giles HS

          Will be available from 11am-2pm at EZWay Laundry Mat, 724 Mnt. Lake Avenue to assist with laundry needs free of charge. They have all of the detergent and supplies there.

          Roll off dumpsters
          Available for public use at the following locations:
          • Iron Skillet
          • Grants
          • Jason Circle
          • Old BB&T in Narrows
          • Gentry’s Landing
          • Riverview Campground
          • Caboose Lane in Pembroke
          • Eggleston Springs Campground
          • Pembroke Convenience Center
          • Rt. 100 Convenience Center
          • Newport Convenience Center
          Riverview Baptist Church

          Riverview Baptist Church, 219 Stony Creek Road in Ripplemead is offering charging stations, bathrooms, showers, water, and food. Need help at your residence or other needs? Call (540) 922-5570.

          Pearisburg Fire Department

          Pearisburg Fire Department is offering showers.

          The Giles County Christian Service Mission

          The Giles County Christian Service Mission is already working with families who have lost their homes. If you need housing assistance, you can contact them at (540) 921-3006. They are also in need of donations, which can be sent to 516 Wenonah Avenue, Pearisburg, 24134.
          https://www.facebook.com/gilesmission/

          PSA convenience centers operating hours (Oct. 1–19):
          • Dublin, 5570 Utility Lane: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Saturday
          • Fairlawn, 7791 Mason St.: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Saturday
          Roll-off containers:
          • Allisonia: Containers will be placed at Odell Park and Allisonia Boat Launch.
          • Delton: Containers will be placed at the Clarks Ferry Road/Shulls Lane intersection and the Clarks Ferry Road/Ledge Rock Road intersection.
          • Parrott: Containers will be placed at or near the Parrott River Road/Parrott Mountain Road intersection.
          • Belspring: Containers will be placed near the trestle on Depot Road.
          Grapple boom truck

          All items for pickup must be placed near the roadside and should not be placed under power lines or low tree limbs.

          The truck will operate on the following dates for properties along the New River:
          • Allisonia: Oct. 1, 8 and 15
          • Delton: Oct. 2, 9 and 16
          • Parrott and Belspring: Oct. 3, 10 and 17

          For more information, contact the Pulaski County Public Service Authority at 540-674-8720 or visit www.pulaskicounty.org.

          General New River Valley Resources

           
          NRV United Way

          Can connect you with local resources based on need - 276-628-2160

          Clean up support (free):
          • Crisis Clean Up (Virginia)
            1-844-965-1386
            https://www.crisiscleanup.org/
          • NRV Heating and Air
            "If you or someone you know needs assistance, we’re offering cleanup crews this week (9/30-10/4) free of charge to help during this difficult time. Please email info@newriverheatingandair.com to let us know how we can help you! You can also call our office during work hours to speak to someone directly."
            540-731-1979
          • All American Hauling LLC
            Posted on Next Door Neighbor. From Tyler Roop, Merrimac/460.
            "We are proud to dedicate our services to help with storm cleanup and freeing accessways (free of charge to those in need) once the conditions have calmed! If you or anyone you know needs assistance, please comment / call / text or email us! We are on standby to help our community!"
            540-267-6393
            aahaulingllc@outlook.com
          • Blue Ridge Green Cleaning
            "After the recent storm and flooding, Blue ridge green cleaning would like to donate some of their time and services to helping those in need! If anyone is in need of some help with any clean up projects, or knows someone who does, please reach out to us!"
            https://www.facebook.com/blueridgegreencleaning
          Storage (free)
          Pets
          • Humane Society of the New River Valley
            If you need dog food, call (540) 307-5658

          Additional resources and information

           
          Extension resources
          Government resources
          Additional relief resources
          Online communities