Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund (VDAF)

Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund (VDAF) is sponsored by Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). A state program providing financial relief to Virginians whose homes, businesses, farms, or community infrastructure were destroyed or heavily damaged by Tropical Storm Helene or the February 2025 storms. It also funds mitigation projects to protect against future disasters.

The program aims to cover unmet needs by insurance, federal, state, and other relief.

Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund City of Bristol - City of Galax The Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund (VDAF) is a $50 million state program providing financial relief to Virginians whose homes, businesses, farms, or community infrastructure were destroyed or heavily damaged by Tropical Storm Helene or the February 2025 storms, and funding mitigation projects to protect against future disasters.

The purpose of the Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund Program (“Program”) is to provide funding for disaster mitigation and relief for qualified communities and individuals to cover needs otherwise unmet by insurance, federal relief, state relief and other relief (including charities or in-kind services, construction, or reconstruction, etc.).

The Program provides funding to eligible recipients for eligible activities in qualified communities.

This includes assistance for individuals affected by one or both of the following two disaster events: Part 1 of the Program (Disaster Recovery) addresses unmet relief and recovery needs in response to one or both of the following two disaster events: Tropical Storm Helene, being a disaster occurring on or after September 25, 2024, but before October 3, 2024, and subject to a Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-4831-DR) issued by President Biden on October 1, 2024; and The storms occurring during the State of Emergency declared by Governor Youngkin on February 10, 2025, including, without limitation the heavy rains occurring on or around February 15 and 16, 2025.

Part 2 of the Program (Disaster Mitigation) supports disaster mitigation and resiliency efforts in qualified communities. The funding is designed for DHCD to supply major weather event disaster mitigation funding to affected communities to counter the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage.

Disaster Recovery (Part 1) Eligible Applicants must have been Virginia residents in a Qualified Community (Grayson County, Smyth County, Washington County, or Wythe County) at the time of the applicable Disaster Event (Tropical Storm Helene and/or February 2025 Severe Storm) and must have owned the eligible real property or properties at the time of the applicable Disaster Event.

Only owners of affected properties that were actively occupied on or at the times of the applicable Disaster Event are eligible. Ineligible applicants include property owners whose property(ies) were abandoned or uninhabited, during the time of the applicable Disaster Event, or who have acquired the property since the applicable Disaster Event.

Eligible Applicants also includes owners of commercial real property and owners who lost fencing and crops as a result of a Disaster Event. Part 1 of the Program provides relief based on damage to real property with an active use that was adversely impacted by one or more of the Disaster Events. Eligible real property must have been in active use at the time of the applicable Disaster Event and cannot have been abandoned or uninhabited.

Applicants bear the burden of proving that they are Eligible Applicants, that their property is an eligible property and that the amount they are seeking is eligible for relief. Applicants must file an application using the form provided by DHCD. The application must be signed by the owner or owners under oath.

Applicants are solely responsible for establishing all elements of their eligibility for relief, including (i) their ownership interest in the subject real property and percentage of ownership, (ii) documentation of relevant funds expended and received, (iii) the amount of loss, and (iv) the existence of insurance policies or other relief that the applicant could apply for and whether the applicant received payment or other relief.

Applicants must supply and execute all information and documentation required by DHCD, including proof of ownership, proof of occupancy, insurance policies, estimates, receipts, and affidavits and releases of liability. DHCD has the right to investigate and independently confirm all information provided including information gaps and inconsistencies, as well as conducting title searches as DHCD determines in its discretion.

The Program requires the least burdensome documentation possible, while adhering to programmatic, state, and federal guidelines. After an applicant has collected the required documentation, an application is ready to be completed and submitted. The Program offers Eligible Applicants multiple methods in which they may apply.

• In Person : Applicants may make an appointment with the MRPDC to review and complete their application for assistance. • By Third Party In Person : Applicants who prefer to have a trusted third party complete their application may appoint a power of attorney for doing so. However, this will not excuse the applicant from the requirement to sign the application under oath or sign such other documentation as may be required by DHCD.

Such applicants must include a copy of a valid power of attorney properly executed by the applicant with the application. • Digital : Applicants who prefer may submit their application for assistance, including all necessary support documentation, via email or file share to : assist@VDAF. mrpdc.

org . MRPDC is not responsible for lost or misplaced application documents, data security, or network functions. MRPDC will follow up with applicants regarding additional documentation or confirmation of receipt of documentation.

Accommodations for those with disabilities will be provided upon request. This may include but not be limited to a member of the MRPDC’s staff conducting a home visit or assistance filling out a written application. Applications will be processed in the order they are received on a first come, first eligible basis.

Payments under Part 1 of the Program are subject to the availability of funds.

Appointment Locations (between the hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday): Bland County -- ( by appointment only ) Carroll County -- ( by appointment only ) Smyth County -- 1021 Terrace Drive, Marion, VA 24354 Grayson County -- ( by appointment only ) Washington County -- ( by appointment only ) Wythe County -- ( by appointment only ) City of Bristol -- ( by appointment only ) City of Galax -- ( by appointment only ) The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission (MRPDC) have entered into an agreement to administer the Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund Program (Program) on behalf of the Qualified Communities within the Mount Rogers Planning District.

As such, MRPDC is acting as a Partner to DHCD for implementation of this program in order to reduce burden on the Qualified Communities and increase efficiency and consistency of the Program implementation.

NOTE: We are currently not processing applications under the Special Programs for Fencing and Crop Loss until the applicant can show that every effort has been made to obtain funding for losses from the Virginia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program first. This program opened on September 22, 2025.