Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 4, 1995 TAG: 9507050049
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
The declaration Monday by President Clinton means the county will be eligible for federal emergency relief to help clean up after a June 27 storm that damaged roads and buildings.
Preliminary damage estimates from the torrent that poured more than five inches of rain in about two hours top $600,000, county officials said.
Most damage was concentrated on the southeastern slope of Angels Rest Mountain. Storm runoff inundated Pearisburg, caused mudslides along Virginia 100 and opened deep sinkholes along U.S. 460.
"The water just came down the mountain so quickly," County Administrator Janet Tuckwiller said. "The drains couldn't handle it."
"Most people say they've never seen anything like it," she added.
The flood damaged about 200 homes and forced 12 to 15 families from their residences, according to County Agent Richard Townsend. No injuries were reported.
Two county office buildings, a school and a number of businesses were damaged by high water in Pearisburg. Flooding also washed out several roads and culverts in the town.
Townsend said the storm washed out a number of home gardens yet did not cause widespread agricultural damage.
Town Engineer Chris McKlarney said it will take about $100,000, several weeks and about 1.5 miles of asphalt to straighten things up.
"It's definitely going to be needed," he said of the federal relief money. "It's pretty devastating to a budget as small as ours."
The disaster designation will allow individuals to apply for housing assistance funds and low-interest loans. The federal aid may also cover three-fourths of the cost for cleanup, road repairs and emergency services.
Giles is the eighth Virginia county to be declared a disaster area since last week's persistent thunderstorms.
Local officials said they'll meet with federal representatives soon to work out details of the relief program.
by CNB