WASHINGTON, DC (WTVR) – Officials said Friday that Louisa County Public Schools will receive over $3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund new school construction.
Louisa schools were heavily damaged after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in August rocked much of the East Coast.
The announcement came after FEMA originally refused funding. However, Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) appealed the decision.
“The quake caused structural damage to churches, schools, and even caused the shutdown of nuclear power stations in North Anna,” said 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.”
The earthquake and aftershocks severely damaged Thomas Jefferson Elementary in Louisa County.
Officials plan to build a new Thomas Jefferson Elementary with the $3,247,990 grant. It will be based off the county’s new Moss-Nuchols Elementary’s floor plan and will have 41 classrooms.
