The major disaster declaration approved for parts of the state that sustained damage during February’s torrential rain and storms includes 17 localities in far Southwest Virginia, while 16 additional localities in the Southside, Central and Southwest parts of the state were requested but are still in process, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The declaration covers the three counties — Buchanan, Dickenson and Tazewell — that were originally requested by Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Feb. 16, plus localities he later added: Bland, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson, Lee, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Washington and Wise counties and the city of Bristol.
The request, which can be expanded for 30 days after the declaration, was amended to include additional localities on Feb. 27 and March 18, a spokesperson for FEMA said Wednesday…