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Virginia's Weather History • Virginia Weather and Disaster Statistics • Presidentially Declared Disasters
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Virginia Weather and Disaster Statistics: Hurricane Statistics
A recap of the most destructive tropical storms to hit Virginia in recent years
2006 Hurricane Season Recap
Tropical Storm Ernesto hit the Commonwealth Aug. 29 and caused flooding and high winds that killed seven people and caused an estimated $118 million in damage. In Virginia, storm surge along the western shores of the Chesapeake Bay and into tidal sections of adjacent rivers flooded several homes, and significantly damaged some piers and boats. Strong winds downed trees and power lines in coastal areas.
To help state government and local jurisdictions recover, the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided federal funds to eligible government and private nonprofit organizations in the counties of Accomack, Caroline, Charles City, Dinwiddie, Essex, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland, Richmond, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland and York and the independent cities of Poquoson and Richmond.
U.S. Small Business Administration provided low-interest disaster loans to Virginia residents affected by Ernesto in the independent cities of Hampton, Newport News and Richmond; the counties of Gloucester, Northumberland and the adjacent independent city of Poquoson; the adjacent counties of Chesterfield, Henrico, James City, King and Queen, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Richmond, Westmoreland and York.
Tropical Depression Ernesto, Aug. 29, 2006
Localities declared major disaster areas (Public Assistance Program only): The cities of Newport News, Poquoson, Richmond, and the counties of Accomack, Caroline, Charles City, Dinwiddie, Essex, Gloucester, Greensville, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland, Richmond, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, York.
- Fatalities: 7
- Total damages (not including economic losses): $118 million
- Homes destroyed/damaged: 609
Public Assistance (state agencies, local government, utilities)
- Total for debris removal and protective measures: $7 million
- Total for road systems, water control, public buildings/equipment, public utility systems and parks & recreation: $28.1 million
- For state agencies: $9.6 million
- Federal Highway:
- Total for all public assistance: $44.7 million
2005 Hurricane Season Recap
The 2005 hurricane season broke the record for named storms, producing 26 named storms, 14 hurricanes and seven intense hurricanes. Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Ophelia and Wilma, and Tropical Storm Cindy caused 12 federal major disaster area declarations in six states.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita did not strike Virginia, but the Commonwealth felt their impact. The severity of the storms’ destruction prompted Gov. Mark R. Warner to declare a state of emergency to facilitate the Commonwealth’s ability to help those in the Gulf States. Virginia sent more than 1,100 state and local personnel to the region through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Through the efforts of many local, state and nonprofit agencies, a temporary shelter and resource center to serve more than 1,000 evacuees was established at Ft. Pickett, near Blackstone, Va., although the Federal Emergency Management Agency did not transfer any to Virginia.
Hurricane Jeanne, September 28, 2004 (figures through April 2005)
- Localities declared major disaster areas: Cities of Salem and Roanoke, and the counties of Alleghany, Craig, Giles, Montgomery, Floyd, Patrick and Roanoke
- Fatalities: 1
- Total damages (not including economic losses): $3.6 million
- Homes destroyed/damaged: 280
- Businesses destroyed/damaged:12
Federal Recovery Assistance
- Housing assistance (home repair, rental assistance): $1.4 million
- Other Needs assistance (personal property, medical, transportation, miscellaneous): $795,000
- Small Business Administration loans to individuals: $675,000
- Small Business Administration loans to businesses: $195,000
- Hazard Mitigation (federal, state, local funds combined with Hazard Mitigation Grant Program): $153,000
Hurricane Gaston, August 30, 2004 (figures through April 2005)
- Localities declared major disaster areas: Cities of Richmond, Hopewell, Colonial Heights and Petersburg, and the counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Hanover, Henrico and Prince George
- Fatalities: 9
- Total damages (not including economic losses or vehicles): $46 million
- Homes destroyed/damaged: 5,798
- Businesses destroyed/damaged: 97
- Vehicles destroyed/damaged: 2,077
- Total damage to vehicles: $41.4 million
Federal Recovery Assistance
- Housing assistance (home repair, rental assistance): $6.4 million
- Other Needs assistance (personal property, medical, transportation, miscellaneous): $2.7 million
- Small Business Administration loans to individuals: $3.4 million
- Small Business Administration loans to businesses: $4.8 million
- Hazard Mitigation (federal, state, local funds combined with Hazard Mitigation Grant Program): $2.3 million
Public Assistance (state agencies, local government, utilities
- Total for debris removal and protective measures: $2.6 million
- Total for road systems, water control, public buildings/equipment, public utility systems and parks & recreation: $17.2 million
- For state agencies: $1.3 million
- Federal Highway: $6.6 million
- Total for all public assistance: $27.9 million
Hurricane Isabel, September 18, 2003 (figures from Sept. 18, 2003 through April 30, 2004)
- Localities declared major disaster areas: 100
- Fatalities: 32
- Total damages (not including economic losses): $1.9 billion
- Homes destroyed: 1,124
- Businesses destroyed: 77
- Homes damaged: 9,027
- Businesses damaged: 1,400
- Total amount of debris: 20 million cubic yards (equals 200,000 football fields)
- Dump trucks used to haul debris: more than 660,000
- Water delivered to localities 1.5 million gallons
- Meals served: 1.4 million
- Ice delivered to localities: 6 million pounds
- Generators provided to localities: 150
- Calls received at the Virginia Public Inquiry Center: 6,000
- People who registered with FEMA for assistance: 93,000
Recovery Assistance
- Housing assistance (home repair, rental assistance): $33 million
- Other Needs assistance (personal property, medical, transportation, miscellaneous): $22 million
- Small Business Administration loans: $79 million
- Mitigation: $15 million
Public Assistance (state agencies, local government, utilities)
- Debris removal: $179 million ($50 million of that for VDOT)
- Total for road systems, water control, public buildings/equipment, public utility systems and parks & recreation: $36 million
- For state agencies: $25 million
- Federal Highway: $30 million
- Total for all public assistance: $270 million