Storm aftermath resources: Need help? Want to help? We have a list of resources available and places where you can donate or volunteer.
While touring the flood-ravaged town of Damascus on Thursday, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance said he supports a bipartisan call for Congress to come back from its recess to approve supplemental emergency funding for those devastated by flooding and high winds from Hurricane Helene.
“Of course, of course, we’re going to support the people who I think need the help and certainly need the support,” Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio, said in answer to the question from Cardinal News about whether Congress should return. “I think we have to make sure that, of course, the people who get the help … actually really need it.” 
On Tuesday, a letter signed by 12 senators from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee — the states most affected by the massive storm — urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, to approve additional resources.
The senators also joined President Joe Biden in urging lawmakers to consider an emergency session before Election Day to get the money approved.
U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said earlier this week that he doesn’t think a special session is needed. His office did not respond to a question Thursday evening about whether Griffith still holds the same view. 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has funding through Dec. 20 that can be used to support Helene operations and recovery efforts, Griffith said Tuesday.
“I will keep an eye on FEMA’s disaster relief services and make decisions going forward accordingly,” he said in a statement.
Vance said that Damascus — where there were no deaths and a couple of people who were initially missing were later found — is fortunate to be beyond the phase of rescue operations and is starting to rebuild. There are a lot of communities, especially in North Carolina, where officials are still trying to rescue people, which is where the nation’s time and attention should be now, he said.
Once those rescues are complete, “we are absolutely going to do what we can to help this community,” he added.
Vance, accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, visited the Washington County town of fewer than 800 people six days after the flooding. After days of rain saturated Southwest Virginia ahead of the hurricane, the region was slammed by hours of heavy rains and high winds. The two creeks that surround Damascus rose over their banks and sent a river through town. Trees were uprooted, giant sinkholes formed on and off the roads, and some houses and mobile homes were knocked off their foundations and sent downstream.
About 100 people had to be rescued by swift-water teams, and electricity and water were out for days. While those services have now been restored to some parts of the town, Damascus remains under a boil water notice. 
Vance arrived Thursday afternoon at Tri-City Aviation in Blountville, Tennessee, and then traveled by motorcade the 45 miles to Damascus where he was met by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and state Sen. Todd Pillion and Del. Israel O’Quinn, both Republicans from Washington County.
While Vance spoke to a number of local officials and some town residents in the parking lot of the heavily damaged First Baptist Church, reporters were herded away so they could not hear what was being said. Vance did hold a gaggle with reporters, where he and the governor made brief statements and Vance fielded two questions.
The senator said he heard from Youngkin that FEMA has provided a lot of resources to Damascus and other places in Virginia affected by Helene.
“But I also think that talking to people just on the ground today, but also talking to the governor, this is a community that has long been left behind by the leadership of this country,” he added.
This week, Biden toured the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, visited Georgia, where former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, visited earlier this week.
Vance said that he would be back to Damascus, and that he hopes it will be as vice president. 
Want to see where the candidates stand? You can compare their records on our Voter Guide.
