Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is appealing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision to deny disaster assistance for Virginians affected by the April tornadoes.

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McDonnell asked for assistance for Pulaski, Halifax and Washington counties and put in a request to consider the date range April 8 through April 28 as a period so Gloucester and Middlesex could be added. All requests were denied and are being appealed.

"Local and state governments and volunteers are doing all they can to help, but federal assistance would make a big difference in ensuring that hundreds of Virginians recover from this devastation," McDonnell said. "I urge FEMA to reconsider this decision and to expedite my request."

Twenty-nine tornadoes struck Virginia in April, killing ten people and destroying or damaging thousands of homes.