On September 26, Helene made landfall near Perry, FL as a Category 4 hurricane. Tropical Depression Helene then moved to the northwest and stalled over the Tennessee Valley, causing widespread damage and flooding in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, which triggered the request for assistance from the Commonwealth of Virginia to EPA Region 3.
On September 29, 2024, the Commonwealth of Virginia requested assistance from EPA in responding to floating containers and oil tanks in Claytor Lake, that were dislodged during the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Claytor Lake flows into the New River. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) are both responding and assessing and remain the lead agencies for this response. EPA and contractors are to support the Commonwealth’s response efforts, specifically with the collection and management of tanks/drums/containers containing oil
