President Donald Trump has approved a federal disaster declaration for Virginia in advance of Hurricane Florence, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday.
The declaration will mobilize federal emergency response assets to preposition resources for hurricane response in Virginia and will allow Virginia to seek federal reimbursement for the significant cost of responding to and recovering from impacts caused by Hurricane Florence.
Trump approved similar declarations for North and South Carolina.
“We requested this federal declaration to bring additional federal resources for response and recovery efforts across the Commonwealth,” Northam said. “This declaration will also help ensure we’re better able to respond to the effects of the storm. I appreciate the willingness of our federal partners to join in our coordinated emergency response efforts.”
Federal emergency declarations supplement state and local or Indian tribal government efforts in providing emergency services, such as the protection of lives, property, public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.
Forecasts and data suggest that Hurricane Florence could have devastating impacts across Virginia, including storm surges, inland flooding, downed trees and loss of power, according to the governor’s office.
On Saturday, Northam declared a state of emergency for Virginia, and on Monday he requested federal assistance and ordered mandatory evacuations of residents living in Zone A, Virginia’s low-lying coastal areas in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore. The governor has urged all Virginians to begin making storm preparations immediately.
“This is a serious storm,” Northam said, describing Zone A as the “most flood-prone area of Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore.”
“I’m giving this announcement to give residents, families, schools and businesses time to prepare,” Northam said, urging Zone A residents to go to “higher ground and inland.”
Virginians should check their zone at knowyourzoneva.org, and can call 2-1-1 for information on their zone or local shelters.
