WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) today announced $3,247,990 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds will go to the Louisa County School Board (LCSB) to pay for new school construction following damage caused by the August 2011 earthquake. After FEMA initially refused to provide disaster aid in October 2011, both Senators objected and intervened. Senator Webb wrote to FEMA Administrator S. Craig Fugate to request a detailed rationale for the denial, and Senator Warner worked with local and state officials to collect additional information for FEMA. Senators Webb and Warner later joined the Virginia Congressional delegation in writing to Administrator Fugate to support an appeal of the denial.

“The quake caused structural damage to churches, schools, and even caused the shutdown of nuclear power stations in North Anna,” said Senator Webb. “Today’s announcement for the Louisa County School Board is a positive step toward the area’s recovery and a welcomed reversal of FEMA’s original denial.”

“This federal grant announcement represents another huge step forward as Louisa County rebuilds and moves forward after the once-in-a-generation earthquake last fall,” Senator Warner said. “The damage to school buildings caused a tremendous disruption within the community, and a lot of people at the local, state and congressional levels worked hard to make sure FEMA re-evaluated and reconsidered this funding request.”

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake and following aftershocks severely damaged Thomas Jefferson Elementary in Louisa County, Virginia. A newly constructed school, Moss-Nuchols, is an 85,620 square feet facility that will meet the required capacity. With this grant, the LCSB intends to build a new Thomas Jefferson Elementary with the Moss-Nuchols floor plan. It will have approximately 41 classrooms, a cafeteria, gymnasium, and music, art, and multi-media rooms. Also included in the facility is sufficient administrative, storage, mechanical, lobby, common and personal services areas to support the student capacity.