3 More W.Va. Counties Get Individual Disaster Assistance

Fayette, Harrison and Kanawha counties have been approved for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the agency announced Wednesday. This is for areas affected by severe storms and flooding from August 14-18.  

That assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and families recover from the effects of the disaster. 

Individual assistance was previously approved for Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie and Upshur counties following the July storms. However, FEMA continues to deny Individual Assistance for Boone and Logan counties following June flooding. The state had appealed FEMA’s initial determination seeking federal assistance. 

“We are disappointed by the decision on Boone and Logan counties, but we are not going to stop working for those communities,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said. “Families there suffered real losses, and we will continue working with state and local partners to identify resources that can help them recover.” 

Individuals and families who sustained losses in the designated areas should first file claims with their insurance providers and then apply for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, provide FEMA the number for that service. 

“I want to thank President Trump and his administration for approving this assistance and continuing to stand with West Virginia as our communities recover,” Morrisey said. “Our local emergency managers, first responders and volunteers worked alongside the state and FEMA to document the damage and make the case for this assistance. We will keep working to get resources where they are needed and help these communities rebuild.” 

Public Assistance was previously awarded for Barbour, Doddridge, Lewis, Pendleton, Pleasants, Randolph, Ritchie, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur and Wetzel counties following the severe storms, flooding and landslides that began July 21.  

Public Assistance provides federal funding on a cost-share basis for emergency work, debris removal and the repair or replacement of damaged public infrastructure, including roads and utilities.