DMV first responders say more help needed as southwest Virginia recovers from Helene

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — More aid is coming to Virginians in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which caused extensive damage in Southwestern Virginia.

President Biden approved the emergency declaration on Sunday to make federal assistance available to counties impacted by the storm.

“A lot of heavy rain, heavy flooding, but hampered everything was the massive destruction of the infrastructure, roads, power, communications, cell phones, did not work,” said battalion chief Justin Tirelli, who oversees Water Rescue for Arlington County Fire and Rescue.

Crews from Arlington County, Prince William County, Stafford County, Virginia State Police and other groups responded to southwestern Virginia to help with recovery efforts after Helene moved across that part of the state.

“Very extensive damage from the storm… A lot of folks, lost everything. But the remarkable thing was, they were just so grateful to us for being there,” said Kurt Heindrichs, assistant chief for the Prince William County Fire and Rescue.

In a video from the Arlington County Fire Department , you can see crews working to help get more than 10 people to safety after flood waters overtook a bridge in Damascus.

“Two houses had already slammed into that bridge before those guys were able to cross it. It was a very, very dangerous situation for them. If that bridge didn’t hold, they would have been trapped in that area with its rising flood waters,” Tirelli said.

Teams rescued over 70 people, and as crews return to their respective counties, they say more aid is needed to help these families recover.

“If you can see what some of the damage, some of the devastation that occurred, these small towns, they don’t have all the resources that were used to in this area,” Tirelli noted.

Biden’s approval allows the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate disaster relief efforts and provide more assistance in Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe counties and the City of Galax.

“It’s going to take a long time for that part of the state to really rebound with rebuilding of roads, rebuilding and bridges. And just even getting that the power and the communications back. Everything we can give them as a nation, they certainly need,” Heindrichs said.

As clean-up efforts continue, crews are working to ensure those in need are getting all the essentials they need, including water and food.

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