WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 -- The White House issued the following news release on Oct. 2, 2024: Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Virginia and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Helene beginning on September 25, 2024, and continuing. The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Giles, Grayson, Smyth, Ta  more