No Halo News · Sourced development
United Way of Southwest Virginia reports $2.5 million distributed for disaster recovery and 24 preparedness trainings
United Way of Southwest Virginia is expanding its disaster work from recovery funding into regional preparedness and coordination. Executive Director Megan Parks told Cardinal News that the charity has raised and distributed more than $2.5 million following Hurricane Helene and Winter Storm Jett. Since February 2026, it has also conducted 24 emergency-preparedness trainings reaching more than 350 people and is organizing a regional preparedness symposium.
Status matters. This page records a sourced development, not a completed No Halo investigation. An allegation is not a finding. Dismissals, settlements, judgments, corrections and final outcomes remain distinct.
Donor relevance
Why this matters
The reported work combines substantial disaster-recovery funding with practical training intended to improve coordination before the next emergency. That shift from reaction to preparedness may increase the value of future response spending.
Attribution
Who reported or established this
Cardinal News reported the development using figures and comments supplied by United Way Executive Director Megan Parks.
Evidence limits
What remains unverified
No Halo has not independently audited the $2.5 million total, traced distributions to individual recipients or verified attendance and outcomes from each training. The planned symposium had not yet occurred.
Right of reply
Organization response
Megan Parks said previous storms exposed coordination, communication and outreach gaps. She described the charity's goal as moving the region from reacting to disasters toward preparing for them.
Classification
How No Halo records this event
Event type: Operational Expansion. Current state: Open. No Halo preserves the current procedural state rather than treating every mention as a finding.
Published September 16, 2026 · Last verified September 16, 2026. See an error or a later outcome? Submit a correction or right of reply.