McDonnell Requests Federal Irene Aid for 22 Local Governments

Gov. Bob McDonnell asked President Barack Obama's administration Friday for federal disaster assistance to help 22 Virginia city or county governments pay expenses from Hurricane Irene.

Last weekend's category 1 storm caused about $39 million in damage to public property and emergency response costs. Four people died in Virginia, all from trees toppled by Irene.

The request for federal aid to help individuals will come later. McDonnell said that will come next week, after the more voluminous assessments of damage to private property are finished.

McDonnell said he sought aid for local governments because he didn't want to delay federal assistance to them.

There are 11 counties: Essex, Isle of Wight, James City, Lancaster, Middlesex, New Kent, Richmond, Southampton, Sussex, Westmoreland and York. And there are just as many cities: Chesapeake, Emporia, Hampton, Hopewell, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg.

And the list is likely to grow.

Assessments are still under way in the counties of Accomack, Henrico, King and Queen, Mathews, Northampton and Surry, the cities of Franklin and Richmond, and the town of Chincoteague.