Gov. Bob McDonnell asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a federal disater declaration Monday that would help with repair costs for Louisa County schools damaged in the Aug. 23 earthquake.
Engineers have estimated the cost of repairs to the county's schools at $31 million, well over what would be covered by insurance, according to a press release from the McDonnell administration.
Two of the schools in the Virginia county hit hardest by the quake, Thomas Jefferson Elementary and Louisa County High School have been closed indefinitely and students have been moved to temporary classrooms.
If approved, the disaster declaration would allow the state and local government to recoup some money from FEMA.
FEMA has already denied a request from McDonnell for individual assistance for county residents to repair their homes and businesses. This led the governor to invite President Barack Obama to tour Louisa County during his visit to Virginia last week. The invitation was declined by the president and McDonnell plans to officially appeal FEMA's decision this week.
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