Hurricane Helene

Executive Orders

State of Emergency (EO37)

Press Release Updates

Governor Glenn Youngkin Declares State of Emergency in Advance of Hurricane Helene

Governor Glenn Youngkin Assesses Storm Damage Caused by Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia

Recovery FAQs

Click Here to View Frequently Asked Questions

State Public Inquiry Line

Residents in need of information can call: 211 or reach out to their local emergency management office. For individuals near the borders of Virginia, you may need to dial 1-800-230-6977 directly in order to route to 211 Virginia to avoid the system routing you to 211 NC or TN.

Debris and Damage Cleanup

Those who need help with cleanup/debris management you can contact the cleanup hotline for Hurricane Helene at 1-844-965-1386.

You can also contact your local emergency management office and they can potentially assist with connecting you with volunteer organizations in your area that can be a resource.

Here are some tips to return home safely:

• Each year, a significant number of people are injured or killed in the aftermath of a hurricane. As you return home and begin the recovery phase, keep these safety tips in mind:
• Wait to return to your property until local officials have declared that the area is safe.
• Do not wade in floodwaters, which can contain dangerous debris including broken glass, metal, dead animals, sewage, gasoline, oil, and downed power lines.
• Do not enter a building until it has been inspected for damage to the electrical system, gas lines, septic systems, and water lines or wells.
• Avoid drinking tap water until you know it is safe. If uncertain, boil or purify it first.
• Watch for fallen objects and downed electrical wires; Stay at least 30 feet away from downed lines – consider them energized and dangerous; report downed power lines to your local utility provider.

More information can be found at: CDC.gov Mold Information

Volunteers and Donations

Please volunteer through organizations that you trust. You can find several reputable organizations at www.virginiavoad.org. Volunteering with trusted organizations ensures your safety and helps public safety officials focus on meeting affected communities' needs. Let’s ensure our efforts are safe and coordinated. Spontaneous volunteers and donations can hinder emergency activities and create complications for those involved in managing the effort.

Report Price Gouging

If you believe you are impacted by price-gouging, you are encouraged to file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Section of the Attorney General’s office by phone at 800-552-9963, by email at consumer@oag.state.va.us, or through the online complaint form.

Virginia Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act

Local Emergency Management Directory

Find local emergency manager contact information here: https://lemd.vdem.virginia.gov/Public/

Damage Assessment and State/Federal Assistance Processes

The results of the damage assessments will assist in determining if eligibility exists for State or Federal recovery programs. State and federal disaster programs are structured so that certain criteria have to be met to determine eligibility. Damage assessments assist in determining if those criteria are met and what the extent of the damages are from the disaster.

Additional information on the damage assessment process can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/how-declared

Public Assistance:

The term Public Assistance can be misleading. This type of disaster assistance is for local, state, tribal governments, and certain private-non-profits, only. This type of assistance is not for residents and property owners. Public Assistance provides reimbursement to government entities for the damages incurred and costs of the response and recovery process. Like all disaster assistance avenues, there is a damage assessment and thresholds that must be met at all levels of government as prescribed by law.

Information on FEMA’s public assistance can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public

Individual Assistance:

Individual Assistance is a disaster recovery avenue that provides direct financial assistance to residents and property owners whose primary residences are damaged or destroyed. This type of disaster assistance may be used for housing costs, repairs to your home, or other needs assistance. If the Commonwealth receives an Individual Assistance Presidential declaration, information will be published explaining how individuals can apply for assistance.

Information on FEMA’s individual assistance can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual