BY CHELYEN DAVIS

RICHMOND

The governor's request estimates that state and local governments spent $27.5 million responding to the high winds and thunderstorms in late June that contributed to 15 deaths and left 1.3 million utility customers without power.

Sixty-two counties and cities are on the governor's list for assistance, including Louisa and Fauquier. Bob Spieldenner, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, said others could be added later.

Stafford County spokeswoman Cathy Vollbrecht said the county could be one of those. "We are still collecting all the expenses," she said.

Fredericksburg estimated $230,000 to $245,000 in damage, according to Deputy Fire Chief Mike Jones. He said that includes cleanup costs, including overtime, hiring private contractors, and damage to buildings and infrastructure.

The preliminary estimates were $537,000 from Culpeper County and $72,000 from Orange. Spieldenner said those estimates include work costs from cooperative utilities and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

"The historic derecho storm and the follow-up thunderstorms required extraordinary response and recovery efforts at the local and state levels" McDonnell said in a news release. "Federal assistance is vitally important to help our localities recover significant costs associated with responding to the storms and keeping our citizens safe."

Federal disaster assistance can help cover the costs of opening shelters, sending out emergency crews, and repairs to public infrastructure like roads and water system. It's not the same as the federal individual assistance program, which can help people with personal property losses.

The storms required 47 jurisdictions to declare local emergencies, disrupted the water supply of 8,000 people, and closed 217 roads maintained by the state. The power outage was the third largest ever in Virginia, McDonnell's release said.

Chelyen Davis: 540/368-5028
Email: cdavis@freelancestar.com