Statement record

Mark Warner — Sep 30, 2024

U.S. Senator (D-VA) · Sep 30, 2024

Warner, Kaine, and Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) wrote President Biden on September 30, 2024: “We write today to express our strong support for Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s request for an expedited Major Disaster Declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. An expedited Major Disaster Declaration is necessary due to the severity and widespread damages caused by this storm in Southwest Virginia.” The letter cites more than 12 inches of rain, destructive flooding, road and bridge washouts, two confirmed storm-related fatalities, and more than 200,000 without power. No climate attribution. Kaine’s office posted the same letter on October 1; the scored exhibit is Warner’s September 30 posting.

Analysis notes

Core leadership, affected state. In-window. Event yes. Climate no. Recode 2026-09-03: do not rest Warner on an Oct 1 noon-edge timestamp.

Codes

Disaster Mention yes — Names Hurricane Helene’s Southwest Virginia flooding.
Climate Connection no — No climate-change framing.
Mentioned Policy yes — Expedited major disaster declaration / Stafford Act.
Mentioned Republican Obstruction of Climate Action no — Bipartisan with Griffith; no GOP-resistance claim.