Hurricane relief information – Grayson LandCare

RESOURCES FOR VIRGINIANS

For tips on recovering from a disaster, please visit: https://www.ready.gov/recovering-disaster

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

For roadways, the public should report any concerns such as flooding, downed trees or road hazards to VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by visiting my.vdot.virginia.gov or calling 800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).

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

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

Contact your local emergency management office for details on local sheltering operations and supply needs at: https://lemd.vdem.virginia.gov/Public/

RESOURCES FOR FARMERS: Many farmers were impacted, some losing everything. Here are some resources that may be useful to you or others in your network:
If you are experiencing an urgent farm crisis, please contact the RAFI Hotline directly at 866.586.6746.
Submit your information here to receive updates from RAFI on disaster relief and recovery resources: https://bit.ly/3ZQmVnb
USDA disaster info: https://bit.ly/4dtB6kY
RAFI Disaster Information: https://bit.ly/3zETBFk
Directory of USDA county offices (If your county’s phone is down, you may call other county offices.): https://bit.ly/3ZMpZRc
RAFI’s recommendations for farmers who sustained damage from Hurricane Helene:
“CAMERA BEFORE CHAINSAWS.” According to USDA’s FSA, follow these steps:

Document damage with dated photographs, videos, and third-party verification (non-family if possible).
Make every effort to report farm damage to your local USDA Service Center to request assistance (if the office doesn’t answer, be sure to leave a voicemail).
Call your local USDA service center to seek pre-authorization to maximize your chances of getting cost-share reimbursements for repairs. If no one answers, leave a voicemail describing the damage and the repairs needed. If the line is down, you may call any county office in your state. (Be prepared to leave your name and description of damage (including both emergency and long-term) and a list of repairs you are requesting funding for.)
Farmers should start taking extensive notes in addition to pictures:
–What damage you’ve experienced
–What repairs you need to do
–What costs you incur in implementing repairs
–Keep RECEIPTS!
If possible to wait, do not start permanent repairs and field restoration without FSA authorization. You may do emergency repairs, e.g., gates, fencing, etc.

For farmers and everyone else….
FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs. There are several ways to apply: Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App or call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET daily. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages.

If you are in need of essential supplies, such as food, water, or ice, please contact the Virginia Department of Social Services by calling 2-1-1, or 1-800-230-6977, or by visiting https://211.getcare.com/consite/announcements/index.php.

RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES: From April Collins, Director, Blue Ridge Crossroads Small Business Development Center. Small Business Owners: Join a Q&A Session on Disaster Recovery

Join Carl Knoblock, District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration, for a Q&A session on the disaster recovery process. He will provide an update on the current status of recovery efforts, explain what contractors and construction workers need to do to work on cleanup projects with FEMA (including the requirement to register in Sam.gov), and share tips for small businesses that have lost sales or food inventory on how to begin valuing these losses for proper documentation.

We are offering three Q&A sessions: October 2 at 1:00 PM EST and 5:00 PM EST, and Thursday, October 3 at 9:00 AM EST.

We are also livestreaming on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/VASBDC

Please register for the session most convenient for you. Recordings will be made available on our website, Facebook Page, and YouTube Page.