Governor Kaine Announces $1.5 Million for Ongoing Isabel, Gaston Recovery Efforts

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the award of more than $1.5 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Funds to four Virginia localities hard hit by Hurricane Isabel (2003) and Tropical Storm Gaston (2004). Chesapeake, Poquoson, Richmond, and York County will each receive grants to support ongoing rebuilding efforts for homes and community infrastructure damaged or destroyed in the two storms.

The majority of the citizens served by the grants are low- to moderate-income citizens. The Commonwealth’s Community Development Block Grant program is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

“Gaston and Isabel have long passed, but there are communities in Virginia that are still feeling the effects,” said Governor Kaine. “These funds will supplement ongoing recovery efforts and provide additional help to citizens in these communities still living with damaged homes or property.”

The City of Chesapeake will receive $367,747 to install a drainage system in the Money Point community, an area that experienced significant flooding during Hurricane Isabel. The project will benefit 28 households. In July of 2005, Chesapeake received $450,000 in Disaster Recovery funds from DHCD for flood mitigation in the Portlock community.

DHCD will provide $363,600 in funding to the City of Poquoson. The city was greatly impacted by flooding and high winds caused by Hurricane Isabel. A significant number of homes were damage or destroyed and many families were displaced. The city will use these funds for ongoing housing revitalization efforts. DHCD previously awarded Poquoson $700,000 in 2005 for disaster recovery efforts.

The City of Richmond will receive $699,988 for a comprehensive disaster recovery project and storm water management system in the Cheatham Street and Reedy Creek areas. The project is in response to damage suffered in Tropical Storm Gaston and will benefit more than 300 households in the area. Richmond also received $699,700 in July of 2005 for a flood mitigation project around Broad Rock Creek, an area that was severely flooded during Tropical Storm Gaston.

DHCD awarded a $100,000 grant to York County to continue rehabilitation efforts for homes damaged or destroyed in Hurricane Isabel. The project will serve nearly 40 households. The county also received $700,000 from DHCD last summer for the project.

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