State Grants Available For Gov. Agencies Helping With Summer Drought Effects

Gov. Jim Justice announced the Emergency Drought Relief Reimbursement Grant Program Friday.

The program reimburses eligible expenses incurred by local public agencies, fire departments, and conservation districts, for water transportation to farms in counties experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions.

Weeks of drought conditions have taken a toll on agriculture across the state this summer, devastating crops and livestock, particularly in the Eastern Panhandle. 

“We know every ounce of water is important right now, and we’re very thankful to those lending a helping hand,” Justice said in a press release. 

“This program makes sure that our farmers will continue to have access to all the necessary water supplies. We know this is a really hard time for our state that’s experiencing a terrible drought, and now, we need to pull the rope together to get through it. West Virginians are known for stepping up, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing during this hard time.”

Eligible applicants include:

• State, regional, county, and municipal agencies, including emergency management agencies and county commissions assisting in water supply efforts.
• Local and volunteer fire departments assisting in water supply efforts.
• Conservation Districts as organized under West Virginia Code § 19-21A-1 assisting in water supply efforts.

Policies and procedures, including eligibility, can be found here, and applications are available here