Warner and Kaine announce $1.3 million to aid clean-up efforts from Hurricane Helene
Today, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,300,000 in federal funding to help aid in the clean-up efforts of outdoor recreation sites impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The funding, made possible by the Appalachian Regional Commission, will be used to evaluate damages to 17 counties and 4 independent cities and develop plans to restore parks and trails across Southwest Virginia.
Many outdoor recreation sites were severely damaged from the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.
“Virginia’s parks, trails, and public spaces make our Commonwealth beautiful and contribute immeasurably to local economies,” the senators said. “We’re glad that this federal funding is going towards assessing the terrible damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene. We’re also pushing as hard as we can for a full disaster aid bill to fund additional projects to restore our parks and public spaces and meet the many additional needs of impacted communities across Southwest Virginia.”
This funding will go towards assessing damages in Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe counties, as well as the independent cities of Bristol, Galax, Norton and Radford and develop plans to restore the Creeper Trail, the Clinch and New River boat ramps, and other key trails, campgrounds, parks, bridges, and trestles.