Washington County, Virginia working on relief plan after severe weather

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — Washington County, Virginia, provided an update on communities, relief plans and more after weather from Hurricane Helene impacted the region.

According to the Office of the County Administrator, the county is working to create a Washington County, Virginia Relief Fund. Details will reportedly be announced in the coming days.

The Konnarock Solid Waste Convenience Station was damaged by the storm and will be closed until further notice, the county said. Open-top containers at the Mount Rogers Fire Department (51 Fire House Road, Whitetop) are available for public use.

Generators are active at the Green Cove Community Center (41221 Green Cove Road, Damascus) for those without power. Appalachian Power has been notified and power is expected to be restored to the Taylor’s Valley and Green Cove area by Thursday.

Brightspeed announced on Wednesday it will open a free charging and phone station in Damascus to those affected by Hurricane Helene.

“Brightspeed crews have been working around the clock to repair the damage to the company’s network that has resulted in service interruptions for its customers,” Brightspeed said in a news release. “In the meantime, the company has power and phone service available for Taylors Valley residents to make those important connections with family and friends who have been unable to check on residents’ wellbeing.

The charging and phone station, located at the parking lot adjacent to 37077 Chestnut Mountain Road in Damascus, will be open to the public starting Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, President Joe Biden approved Virginia’s request for an expedited Federal Major Disaster Declaration . The declaration allows for federal funding to be available to individuals in several counties, including Washington County.

The declaration is an addition to the federal emergency declaration approved on Sept. 29 .

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