Governor Youngkin establishes hurricane relief office

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced yesterday the issuance of Executive Directive 9, establishing the Office of Hurricane Helene Recovery and Rebuilding within the Office of the Governor.

Chief Transformation Officer Rob Ward is leading the newly formed Office of Recovery and Rebuilding.

The office will utilize existing resources from the Transformation Office, ensuring no agency resources are redirected.

The directive aims to enhance coordination and oversight from the Governor’s office without creating a permanent bureaucracy, as it will sunset in one year unless further extended.

Since October 7th, five disaster recovery centers have opened across Virginia to assist residents.

These centers are located in Damascus, Independence, Tazewell, Dublin, and Marion, with plans to open additional centers in the coming weeks throughout Southwest Virginia.

or more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Pilots across the region make repeated trips to hurricane victims

A group from Warren County’s airport reports a flight  to Hurricane Helene victims with almost 700 pounds of supplies taken to Rutherford County North Carolina.

The pilots were able to bring needed supplies like water, blankets, and even a generator to victims of the storm.

The pilots were greeted by a grateful community and hundreds of other aircraft dropping off supplies.

Pilots out of Warren County are planning another trip down later in October.

Pilots out of Augusta County and Shenandoah Regional Airport reportedly have been making repeated trips down to the Carolinas with supplies donated by the community.

Supplies of water, canned goods, bug spray, and garden tools are the items that are in constant need in the hard-hit areas with supplies constantly being collected for repeated trips.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Following the leaf change made easy thanks to VDOF

Virginia Department of Forestry used by permission from VDF Communication Specialist Cory Swift-Turner

Virginia fall colors are starting to show but if you are wondering where and when those colors will be at their peak the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) is keeping track.

VDOF will show the peak from top to bottom and side to side of Virginia by tree, color, time, and location.

This year is tougher than most when it comes to the peak of color due to the drought then the rains of Helene.

There are several ways to keep up with the changing conditions through the VDOF Facebook, X, Instagram and all their social media connections.

At the VDOF website there are details on driving tours routes and the best time to take the ride as well.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Animals rescued from Helene come to Virginia

While first responders are working to save lives in the recovery from Helene additional teams are working to rescue animals from the Carolinas.

Nearly 100 animals were delivered to Homeward Trails in Delaplane and Fairfax station October 1 according to Northern Virginia Magazine.

The coordinated rescue effort involves teams in the Carolinas preparing the pets for transport to Richmond and volunteer drivers ready to take them to Northern Virginia.

The challenge lies in logistics in an area with no cell service or internet with flooded roads and the needs of local shelters according to WTOP.

Shelters were already taxed to the limit that coupled with a natural disaster creates and even harder problem.

Volunteers and more importantly foster homes are needed to help with these animals along with supplies.

If you can help at all contact Homeward Trails to support them in anyway you can.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

The Shenandoah meets the Potomac creating a unique look after Helene

West Virginia state seal. Used by written permission by Chief Deputy and Chief of Staff of West Virginia Chuck Flannery

The flooding of the Shenandoah River due to Helene was expected to crest and has begun to recede according to the United States Geological Survey.

The flood waters have created a unique look at Harpers Ferry where the Shenandoah converges with the less affected Potomac River.

This convergency has created a distinct line between the two rivers as shown by the Journal newspaper.

The Shenandoah brought in mud and debris from the flood and it hit the less affected claimer waters of the Potomac which created the separation.

The Shenandoah has gone from one extreme to the other over the summer from drought conditions to flood waters.

The Potomac on the other hand was in drought stage early and was less affected by the heavy rains of Helene .

The Shenandoah River has begun to recede but caution is still recommended for any kind of water activity on the river.

A unique video of the phenomenon from Wondering Out Younder is found here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

As a flood warning persist additional school information has been released

A flood warning remains in effect for the entire Shenandoah Valley according to the National Weather Service.

Page County schools announced their closure earlier today October 1.

All afternoon and evening activities are cancelled and facilities are closed in Page County.

Warren County Public Schools have announced early dismissal out of an abundance of caution.

Due the flood warning schools are concerned about rising water and bus routes.

All Warren County Elementary Schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.

All Warren County Middle and High Schools will dismiss at 1:30 p.m.

All after school activities are cancelled in Warren County.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Water rescues occurred across the valley over the weekend

The flooding caused by Helene kept fire fighters and rescue workers across the region busy working water rescue the weekend of September of the 27.

Page County reports a swift water rescuers brought 14 people off the Shenandoah River.

That first incident left 13 campers stranded on a small island off Alger Road Rileyville.

The campers were between a backwash which became filled with swift water that was continuing to rise.

All those campers were rescued and taken to safety by power boats operated by swift water rescue teams.

Luray Fire and Rescue reports that they took a call involving a camper trapped near River Water Drive.

Boat 70 was able to take that stranded camper to safety.

At approximately 5:30 p.m. another call for help came from the Page Valley area.

On arrival crews found a man trapped in his vehicle by rising water.

A paddle craft was successfully able to take that man to safety.

In those instances, Luray, Page, and Shenandoah crews assisted in each incident.

Warren County Fire and Rescue reports 3 separate water rescue with more details to come.

There were some attempting to kayak the swollen Shenandoah River.

Authorities are strongly discouraging any kind of river activity as the Shenandoah River will continue to rise in the immediate future.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

FEMA is approved to assist Virginia in Helene recovery

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been approved by President Biden to assist Virginia in recovery from Helene.

This means that federal funding has become available to the state and certain nonprofits organizations on a cost sharing basis for emergency in the hardest hit areas.

Direct assistance is available for Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wyth Counties and the City of Galax.

Governor Youngkin visited Damascus in Southwest Virginia September 29 to assess the storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene and emphasized the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting the affected communities in their recovery efforts.

Over 50 swift water crews were deployed with helicopter air support and able to help stranded people in Washington County in the city of Damascus where substantial flooding was recorded particularly at Radford University.

A Virginia State Police helicopter was dispatched to assist at least 50 people on the roof of a hospital in Tennessee.

In Virginia one fatality occurred in Craig County when a tree fell causing a building collapse.

Five counties including Augusta were under voluntary evacuation recommendations during the brunt of the storm.

Governor Youngkin said the recovery from this storm is going to take some time.

He also commended the efforts of all first responders in answering the call.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Weather alerts and school information for Shenandoah Valley

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Refresh this page each time you open it to ensure you receive the most up to date information.

Page County Schools and Offices are are closed today September 30.

Road conditions are being monitored in Page County should any adjust have to be made Page County Public Schools will make an announcement.

A flood watch is in effect this week for the Shenandoah Valley with flash flooding possible according to the National Weather Service.