The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Monday that federal disaster aid has been made available to Mathews County and 27 other localities in Virginia to supplement the commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Hurricane Sandy during the period Oct. 26 to Nov. 8.

According to FEMA, the declaration makes federal funding available to the Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

Mathews County Administrator Mindy Moran said Mathews had approximately six homes with some storm-related damage from Sandy. "While we were fortunate to experience only minor impacts, we still have many disaster-preparedness needs," she said.

"I am hopeful that this designation will be helpful in addressing such things as a generator for the county’s fuel pump so that county police, fire and rescue vehicles can get fuel in a prolonged power outage," Moran added.

She said Mathews County officials are also still working with Rappahannock Community College in hopes of operating a shelter at its Glenns campus in the case of a Category 2 or above hurricane. Currently, Mathews does not have a structure suitable to shelter its residents in that type of storm, Moran said.

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