Youngkin proposes $127M in disaster aid

RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday announced his proposal to dedicate $127 million into a disaster relief fund for people impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The proposal would establish the Disaster Assistance Fund at the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), a one-time fund aimed at filling “gaps left by federal and private recovery efforts, providing targeted support to rebuild communities.”

The bulk of the money, $102 million, would come from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, with the remaining $25 million coming from the general fund.

Money from the fund would appropriated by specific legislation.

“Our fellow Virginians have suffered an unimaginable impact from Hurricane Helene,” Youngkin said in a news release. “As we continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners on the path to recovery and rebuilding, the creation of the Disaster Assistance Fund is a critical step toward ensuring the Commonwealth has a reserve fund in place to address unmet needs where they exist in our communities in the wake of natural disasters.”

Since the hurricane, nearly 10,000 applications for individual assistance and 3,000 home inspection requests have been filed with FEMA.

It’s estimated Virginia’s agriculture industry suffered $630 million in financial impacts.