Newsletter March 2022

United Way of Southwest Virginia remains committed to long term relief for Hurley O n the morning of August 30, 2021, floodwaters inundated the small community of Hurley, killing one resident and causing landslides on the mountains surrounding the community. After first responders completed their work and officials estimated the total damage, it was determined that 40 homes were completely destroyed and more than 200 were in need of repair. United Way of Southwest Virginia (UWSWVA) swiftly mobilized volunteers, coordinated relief efforts with community partners like American Electric Power and Food City, became the fiscal agent of the Hurley Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) and began the long job of helping the community. UWSWVA stood up the Hurley Disaster Relief Fund and the region answered Hurley’s call, with donations raging in size from $5 to six figures coming from private individuals to large employers including Food City and Buchanan General Hospital, and private foundations. Even inmates at the Pocahontas State Correctional Facility chose to donate their own commissary funds. When the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied individual assistance and rejected the appeal filed by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Travis Staton, president and CEO of United Way of Southwest Virginia, wrote a letter to Governor Glenn Youngkin urging him to allow residents of Hurley access to the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund. The LTRG continues to coordinate volunteer efforts using the relief fund to purchase materials which volunteers from “We need other people to step up, and what better way they can do it than through United Way,” President and CEO of Food City Steve Smith stated after donating over $106,000 to the Hurley Disaster Relief Fund, “Travis and his staff at United Way are seasoned professionals in dealing with tragedies like this and when you give money to United Way and designate it to the Hurley flood situation, I know those dollars will get to the right places, to the right people, and be spent wisely.”

Repair and rebuild efforts in Hurley, Va.

other, mostly faith-based, organizations use to repair and rebuild the homes of Hurley. To date, $542,500 has been allocated from the relief fund in 61 cases considered by the LTRG. There remains much to do. The floodwaters changed the course of the stream that flows through Hurley, in some areas drastically. Permits cannot be issued for rebuilding some properties until the federal government completes a survey to establish the new boundaries of the floodplain. According to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, that process could take upwards of 18 months, leaving some property owners in limbo. In the meantime, UWSWVA is devoted to serving the residents of Hurley by continuing to work with the LTRG to complete the work that can be done.

From L to R: Buchanan County Supervisor Trey Adkins, Food City President and CEO Steve Smith, WCYB-TV General Sales Manager Ginger Lawson and United Way of Southwest Virginia President and CEO Travis Staton

To donate or learn more, visit unitedwayswva.org/HurleyFlood

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