Hurricane Helene struck Virginia causing widespread damage starting on September 25, 2024. On October 1, 2024, President Biden declared a major disaster. People in the following areas are eligible to receive federal disaster assistance.
Fifteen counties plus two cities listed below are eligible for individual assistance from FEMA.
- Bedford County
- Bland County
- Carroll County
- Giles County
- Grayson County
- Montgomery County
- Pittsylvania County
- Pulaski County
- Russell County
- Scott County
- Smyth County
- Tazewell County
- Washington County
- Wise County
- Wythe County
- City of Galax
- City of Radford
The Individual Assistance registration deadline is Monday, December 2, 2024.
Roanoke, Franklin, Henry, Amherst, Campbell, and Halifax counties are eligible for public assistance, but not individual assistance from FEMA. Public assistance means services for the municipal locality rather than the individual residents of these areas. You can learn more about the status of FEMA assistance in Virginia here.
Governor Glenn Youngkin called the hurricane “the most significant disaster in the Commonwealth since 2011.”
For Virginians Who Have Been Affected
Get help
For a comprehensive list of resources and services currently available for those impacted by Hurricane Helene, access this disaster resource guide.
Apply for FEMA and legal assistance, file for disaster unemployment, find safety and shelter resources and more. Virginia Disaster Information.
Get your disaster legal questions answered online with Virginia Free Legal Answers.
Find legal resources and critical information on the Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center website.
For Lawyers Able to Help Those in Need
Provide Immediate Pro Bono Legal Help
Sign up to anonymously answer legal questions online at Virginia Free Legal Answers. As part of the VSB Emergency Legal Response, the financial eligibility criteria for the website will be adjusted to serve more people impacted by disaster legal issues.
Act Now to Support Future Legal Needs
Often the legal needs of natural disaster victims don’t arise in the immediate aftermath of the event, but they will come up in the weeks, months, and years following the disaster. Many of those impacted will only be able to access legal services through legal aid and pro bono resources provided by Virginia Qualified Legal Service Providers (QLSPs). Others may turn to the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service for help. You can set these programs up for success by acting now.
- Donate to a QLSP. The organizations below are most likely to serve those impacted.
- Sign up as a pro bono volunteer. Tell us how you’d like to help and programs in need will be in touch about opportunities to serve.
- Join the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service to be connected to people and businesses seeking private attorney referrals to get advice and/or representation with their disaster legal needs, as well as other legal referrals.
Additional Resources for Lawyers
The VSB is offering Natural Disaster Legal Services 101 for Pro Bono Attorneys at our Pro Bono Conference on Wednesday, October 16, in Williamsburg (in person and virtual). Learn more.
Updated on October 28, 2024