Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency send preliminary damage assessment teams to Virginia to help determine damage levels from the recent Nor’easter.

“On Saturday, I toured several areas that were affected by this devastating storm, and although we have not yet received completed damage reports from all affected localities, the conditions I saw compelled me to request that FEMA begin their official assessments immediately,” says Kaine. “The recovery process will not be quick or easy, but the Commonwealth will engage every available resource to help affected residents and businesses start to get back to normal.”

Results from the damage assessment will help determine whether Virginia is eligible for federal disaster assistance. The FEMA teams will be joined during their evaluations by the representatives of the United States Small Business Administration and state and local officials.

They will look at damage to public infrastructure as well as homes, apartments and businesses in the impacted areas.

The assessments should begin Monday and be completed by mid-week.