News Release and Notice: Louisa County
From: Amanda Reidelbach [mailto:areidelbach@louisa.org]
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 12:03 PM
Subject: News Release and Notice: Louisa County
COUNTY OF LOUISA
Willie L. Gentry, Jr., Chairman Louisa County Board of Supervisors
Robert Dubé, County Administrator
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2011
LOUISA, VA – Just over one month ago, the William A. Cooke Foundation issued a challenge to individuals, churches and civic groups. The Foundation pledged to match every dollar raised up to $100,000 to assist homeowners repair in the wake of the Aug. 23 earthquake. To date, just over $50,000 has been raised to meet the challenge.
“On October 1, 2011, Congressman Cantor presented Chairman Gentry of the Louisa Board of Supervisors with a generous $10,000 contribution from Cantor for Congress. Because of this and other donations we have reached the half way point of the Cooke Foundation’s challenge,” said Robert Dubé, County Administrator.
Additional contributions have come from Governor Bob McDonnell, Virginia Senator Edd Houck, Mr. Peter Farrell, Candidate for the 56th House of Delegates District, and Mr. Tom Garrett, Candidate for the 22nd Virginia Senate District.
This emergency fund was established to help uninsured or underinsured homeowners pay for repairs not covered by other disaster relief sources. Persons wishing to donate can make checks out to the Fluvanna/Louisa Housing Foundation, PO Box 160, Louisa, VA 23093 with “Louisa Earthquake” written in the memo line. For more information, visit www.louisacounty.com/LCHF/index.php
Governor McDonnell’s original request for federal disaster assistance for individuals was denied by FEMA and state and local authorities are working with professional FEMA staff to perfect an appeal. While the county continues to wait for possible FEMA assistance, a committee has been established to develop the parameters for awarding grants from the Louisa Earthquake Recovery Fund to affected citizens to help with repair costs. Citizens should be aware that any distribution of grant funds prior to a final determination by FEMA could affect their ability to receive aid from FEMA or other disaster relief sources.
The White House announced Sunday that President Barack Obama will visit a Chesterfield County firehouse Wednesday during his bus tour of swing-states North Carolina and Virginia. The announcement came two days after Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate told Gov. Bob McDonnell that the president would bypass earthquake- and tornado- damaged Louisa County on the three-day trip this week. “The governor is extremely disappointed in this decision,” that Obama will not visit Louisa, Tucker Martin, a spokesman for McDonnell, said Friday.
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