Governor Warner Announces Thirteen Additional Localities Seeking Federal Drought Designation
Governor Warner Announces Thirteen Additional Localities Seeking Federal Drought Designation
Governor bans open burning in Big Stone Gap, deploys National Guard to assist town with water shortage
Governor Mark R. Warner announced today that an additional thirteen Virginia localities have begun the process to seek federal drought disaster designations from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture due to reductions in agricultural production caused by drought-like conditions. Federal disaster designation makes farmers eligible for low-interest loans and any supplemental relief that may be provided by Congress.
Charlotte, Essex, Giles, Greensville, Halifax, Isle of Wight, Louisa, Patrick, Prince Edward, Rockbridge, Scott, Shenandoah, and Wythe counties are completing damage assessment reports, joining Buckingham and Pulaski in starting the federal drought designation process. Governor Warner has requested drought designations from the federal government for Southampton, Brunswick, Dinwiddie, Mecklenburg, and Pittsylvania counties.
Fauquier County is the only locality currently designated as a primary drought disaster area in Virginia to date. Seven counties adjoining Fauquier -- Clarke, Culpeper, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, Stafford, and Warren -- have been designated contiguous disaster areas due to drought.
"Even though some of the areas of the Commonwealth have seen some rain recently, many localities are still struggling with drought-like conditions that have hurt crop production," said Governor Warner. "My office continues to monitor the situation closely. We are turning drought designation requests over immediately to the federal Farm Service Agency to get them processed and off to Washington."
The Town of Big Stone Gap continues to face critical water shortages due to lack of rainfall and the construction of the Big Cherry Dam in Wise County. Last week, Governor Warner deployed Virginia National Guard units from Big Stone Gap, Gate City, and Staunton to deliver and set up water storage units. The Guard also is delivering large amounts of bottled water, including a tractor-trailer load of bottled water donated by Nestle Waters North America, the company that makes Deer Park bottled water.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) expedited a request from the Town of Big Stone Gap for a Virginia Water Protection permit in order to construct a temporary pipeline that draws water from the Powell River to a new water treatment plant temporarily placed near Bullit Park. The town is also drawing water from the City of Norton and the Town of Appalachia.
Due to the lack of water resources to fight potential fires in Big Stone Gap, and at the request of town officials, Governor Warner has declared an open burn ban for the Town of Big Stone Gap.
During drought conditions of 2001, 995 wildfires burned nearly 11,000 acres of forest across the state. Earlier this month, Governor Warner authorized Virginia State Forester Carl Garrison to declare a statewide open burn ban when he deems it appropriate.
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Oct05/1018.htm