The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s request for public assistance to help repair Louisa County schools damaged in the Aug. 23 earthquake centered in Mineral, Va.
“This is great news for Louisa County schools and Virginia,” Mr. McDonnell said. “I want to thank county and school officials for working with us and FEMA to pull together all the necessary information to make this happen. I also want to thank the President and FEMA for their quick approval of our request. There’s a lot of work ahead before Louisa County schools will be back to normal, but the county and the school system have a good plan to ensure that all school children will receive the best possible education in the interim.”
The Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and the Louisa County High School are closed indefinitely, and the county has provided temporary facilities for students until they are repaired or rebuilt.
The disaster assistance will also help state and local governments recover costs dealing with earthquake response, like damage to critical infrastructure, debris removal, and emergency services.
The federal government had also approved individual assistance to residents in Louisa County whose homes were damaged by the earthquake. For information on how to apply, visit http://www.vaemergency.gov.
