Louisa County is getting federal assistance to repair schools damaged by the Aug. 23 earthquake and aftershocks that have followed.

Gov. Bob McDonnell said Thursday that the Federal Emergency
Management Agency has approved his request for assistance to repair the damage.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and Louisa County High School have been closed indefinitely because of the damage.

FEMA's Public Assistance Program also will help state and local
governments pay response costs related to the 5.8-magnitude
earthquake, such as debris removal and damage to critical
infrastructure.

Last week, FEMA approved assistance for those whose property was
damaged in the earthquake.

The agency initially denied Virginia's request for assistance for Louisa County, the earthquake's epicenter.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)