Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Effect for Fredericksburg Area

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Fredericksburg area that is in effect until 8 p.m.

Stafford and Spotsylvania counties are included in the watch. Showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop this afternoon and could produce damaging wind gusts and possibly large hail.

Gov. Bob McDonnell has already asked for federal disaster aid for the clean-up costs from the   from June 29-July 1. His request included the City of Fredericksburg. Fifteen people in Virginia died as a result of the storm, the governor said.

"Many more Virginians suffered property damage and lost power for extended periods of time during a record heat wave," McDonnell said in a press release. "The historic derecho storm and the follow-up thunderstorms required extraordinary response and recovery efforts at the local and state levels."

He said the Department of Emergency Management has received post-storm assessments from local governments and has completed the preliminary damage assessments.

"We have determined that Virginia should meet all of the requirements for federal public assistance," McDonnell said. "Federal assistance is vitally important to help our localities recover significant costs associated with responding to the storms and keeping our citizens safe."

The aid can be used to cover the costs of sending out emergency crews, infrastructure repairs and to cover the costs of public shelters. But this aid won't be used to help individuals with personal property damages.

The governor said a total of 47 jurisdictions declared local emergencies and 217 roads maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation were closed due to downed trees, power lines and debris. The June 29-July 1 storms occurred during an extended heat wave, resulting in the third-highest level of power outages ever in Virginia, affecting an estimated 1.3 million customers, McDonnell's release said.