Vance in flood-damaged Damascus, Virginia: 'People need a lot of resources' (2024)

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Virginia believes everyone accounted for after Helene

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TROPICAL STORM HELENE | THE RECOVERY

  • DAVID McGEEBristol Herald Courier
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Vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speak to media in Damascus, Virginia, as they view the flood damage on Thursday afternoon.

DAMASCUS, Va. — This town of about 700 along the Tennessee border that was devastated by Tropical Storm Helene drew the focus Thursday of GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance, who toured damage and surveyed ongoing recovery efforts in Southwest Virginia.

Vance, his wife, Usha, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin surveyed parts of flood-ravaged Damascus, where several feet of water flooded the downtown and surrounding areas last week, destroying or damaging homes, businesses and vehicles. Unlike other parts of Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina, there were no fatalities in Damascus and all residents are accounted for.

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“Unfortunately, it’s hard to fully appreciate the scale of the tragedy until you come and see it with your own eyes,” Vance told the news media after speaking with local leaders and volunteers doing cleanup work at the First Baptist Church on Laurel Avenue.

“People need a lot of resources. To rebuild the water system, to rebuild the roads, to get the power back on and to restock people’s refrigerators,” Vance said.

Sporting a “Damascus” ballcap, Vance walked through some of the hardest-hit parts of town — along Laurel Avenue and a side street — and talked with residents.

The Rev. David Matlock, family pastor of First Baptist Church and a longtime resident, spoke with the senator and the governor.

“I just shared with them the history of the town and a little bit about our church,” Matlock said. “They were both very concerned about the safety of our citizens and wanted to know what they could do to help.”

Flood becomespolitical issue

Vance in flood-damaged Damascus, Virginia: 'People need a lot of resources' (2)

At least 200 people throughout the Southeast were killed as Hurricane Helene raked across multiple states starting from Florida’s Gulf Coast late on Sept. 26. Swaths of the Carolinas, Georgia and other areas are still without power, and roads and buildings have been swept away by powerful floodwaters and mudslides.

It is the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. since Katrina in 2005.

President Joe Biden, who surveyed storm damage this week, approved Virginia’s request for an expedited Federal Major Disaster Declaration. The move provides federal money for those in Giles, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington and Wythe counties and the city of Galax.

Vance in flood-damaged Damascus, Virginia: 'People need a lot of resources' (3)

Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump also traveled to storm-impacted areas in the past week.

The hurricane featured prominently in Tuesday’s vice presidential debate between Democrat Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, and Vance, who was elected to U.S. Senate from Ohio in 2022. They were asked about the storm and the larger issue of climate change.

On Thursday, Vance praised the work that is occurring in the Damascus area.

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“This community shows you why they’re proud of Appalachia values. They’re resilient, they’re strong, they love their neighbors and they are going to rebuild this community — I believe better than what it was before. And that’s because of their incredible resilience and incredible grace of the community of Damascus,” Vance said.

Vance said the federal disaster assistance isn’t enough.

“Talking to people on the ground today, and talking to the governor, this is a community that has long been left behind by the leadership of this country,” Vance said. “People who have been forgotten. People who have been ignored. People who have been judged despite the fact they are the nicest people in the world.”

Vance in flood-damaged Damascus, Virginia: 'People need a lot of resources' (5)

Trump has been critical of the Biden administration’s response.

Vance on Thursday also called for the federal government to provide all the resources necessary to hard-hit areas in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. He said he would support Congress returning to session to act promptly to provide support.

Former Central State Hospital worker found not guilty in death of Irvo Otieno

The ruling came after a four-day trial in Dinwiddie County. Jurors returned the not guilty verdict after just twenty minutes of deliberation.

He also pledged to return to check on the town’s progress.

“I’m not here to beat up on anybody but, when I talk to people on the ground, the one thing I think the current administration isn’t doing is making people feel like they matter. For so long, this community has been ignored and they feel like their government is ignoring them once again, and we have got to change that.

The Harris-Walz campaign was asked to respond to Vance’s comment but didn’t immediately respond.

Thank you, Sen. @JDVance, for coming to Virginia to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Helene and for standing with the people of Southwest Virginia during this challenging time. Your support is deeply appreciated as we work together to rebuild and recover. pic.twitter.com/qLW5cPXqbO

— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) October 3, 2024

Youngkin echoed some of Vance’s sentiments.

“This is a part of America that is often forgotten about. It’s not forgotten today and nobody here will ever forget that you came and told them that they matter,” the governor said.

Months of recovery ahead

Both reflected on the efforts of first responders who rescued dozens of people in this mountain community.

“This storm was bigger and caused more damage than anybody possibly could have imagined, when we were preparing,” Youngkin said. “But, I have to say, our first responders were absolutely heroic — rescuing people off of the roofs of hospitals and using swift water crews to rescue people out of houses that were being washed away. And everyday citizens doing the remarkable. That’s what this entire region is about.”

Youngkin said the rebuilding process will take months to years to complete.

State Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Abingdon, said Vance’s visit will raise additional awareness about the challenges ahead.

Said Pillion: “Recovering from this will take time and significant resources from local, state, and federal partners which is why it was important to bring national attention and situational awareness to this tragedy with U.S. senator and vice-presidential candidate JD Vance’s visit today.”

Gallery: Sen. JD Vance, Youngkin tour flood damage in Damascus, Virginia

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

By the numbers

215: Estimated number of deaths from Hurricane Helene and the flooding and mudslides that followed

6: States where fatalities occurred

72: Deaths inAsheville and surrounding Buncombe County, North Carolina, from flash floods

40 trillion: Estimated gallons of rainthat fell on the U.S. Southeast in the last week

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Vance in flood-damaged Damascus, Virginia: 'People need a lot of resources' (2024)
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