Logan, Wayne Counties Now Eligible For Federal Aid Due To Flooding

Residents of Logan and Wayne counties are now eligible for federal aid dollars due to severe flooding that struck southern West Virginia on Feb. 15.

Four other counties in West Virginia — McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties — already received approval for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Feb. 26.

The flash flooding in February claimed lives across southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, and left residents to face significant structural and property damage.

West Virginia State Police reported on Feb. 19 that three residents died after their truck was swept into the Tug River. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced March 3 that flooding and flooding-related injuries killed 24 Kentucky residents, the Courier Journal previously reported.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey requested that areas affected by the flooding receive a major disaster declaration from the federal government Feb. 17.

The government can issue major disaster declarations after natural disasters to open regions up to ad hoc federal aid for things like immediate resident needs, business costs and property and infrastructure damages. But the declaration must first be issued by a state’s governor, then get okayed by the president’s office.

Logan and Wayne county residents can now access funds through FEMA’s individual assistance program, which helps individuals cover recovery costs for home and property damages.

Morrisey said in a press release Monday that he is still waiting to hear back on the inclusion of other counties in his original disaster declaration request — Boone, Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Raleigh and Summers counties.

“The individual assistance program will provide relief to those in need and aid our recovery efforts across southern West Virginia,” Morrisey said in the press release.

FEMA will also consider opening disaster recovery centers in both Logan and Wayne counties, according to the governor’s office. These pop-up centers help guide residents through the disaster aid application process.

For more information on how to apply for federal disaster aid, visit the FEMA website.

For information on resources available over February’s flooding incident and who qualifies, visit the FEMA webpage for the disaster declaration.