Gov. Bob McDonnell said Tuesday that he will appeal the May 7 denials by the Federal Emergency Management Agency of disaster assistance for Virginians affected by a series of tornados in April.

McDonnell made three separate requests for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program: for Pulaski County; for Halifax and Washington counties; and a request to consider April 8-28 as one period so that other localities such as Gloucester and Middlesex counties could be added, according to his spokesperson Jeff Caldwell. All three requests were denied and are now in the process of being appealed.

"Local and state governments and volunteers are doing all they can to help, but federal assistance would make a big difference in ensuring that hundreds of Virginians recover from this devastation," McDonnell said. "I urge FEMA to reconsider this decision and to expedite my request."

According to Caldwell, the Individual Assistance Program would make funding available to home...