Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has announced $7.3 million in disaster relief grants to support long-term recovery efforts in Southwest Virginia following the widespread damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene in 2024.
The funding will help Giles County, Washington County, and the Town of Fries rebuild damaged homes, strengthen critical infrastructure, and improve community resilience against future natural disasters.
Giles County and Washington County will each receive $3.5 million to repair, rehabilitate, reconstruct, and replace homes damaged by the storm. The assistance is targeted at low- and moderate-income households to help families recover and return to safe housing.
The Town of Fries has been awarded $322,712 to install a backup generator at its water treatment facility. The project is designed to maintain essential water services during power outages and future severe weather events, improving the town’s emergency preparedness.
Governor Spanberger said the grants will provide vital long-term support to communities that experienced extensive damage from Tropical Storm Helene, helping residents rebuild their homes while strengthening infrastructure to better withstand future storms.
The funding is being distributed through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) program, which assists communities recovering from federally declared disasters and supports investments that reduce future disaster risks.
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is responsible for administering the grants across the Commonwealth, working with local governments to ensure recovery projects are implemented efficiently and transparently.
State officials noted that the investment not only addresses storm-related damage but also helps reduce long-term vulnerabilities by supporting safer housing and more resilient public infrastructure. The grants represent an important step in Virginia’s ongoing recovery strategy while improving preparedness for future extreme weather events.
