Tag: Aid

Webinar Series To Help College Students Through Financial Aid Process Launches In W.Va.

A webinar series aimed at helping West Virginia students and families figure out how to best pay for college is kicking off this week and will continue through the end of April 2021.

The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia will host 20 financial aid webinars to assist prospective students in applying for scholarships and financial aid.

The seminars will cover how to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and will give updates on specific program, like the PROMISE Scholarship, West Virginia Invests, the Higher Education Grant, the Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program, and the Engineering, Science and Technology Scholarship.

Typically, these workshops are held at high schools in the state, but the sponsor agencies say they are adapting to an online experience because of the coronavirus pandemic.

HEPC and CTC System Chancellor Sarah Armstrong Tucker called the events “critical” to ensure students and families have what they need when planning for college.

“Though our outreach looks different this year, we are hopeful that we can reach more people than ever before through these virtual events,” Tucker said. “I encourage our high school students and their loved ones to join us, ask questions, and learn about the numerous programs that make college affordable and accessible in the Mountain State.”

Financial aid staff will also be available for extended hours to answer questions about the FAFSA. They will offer more than a dozen dates between now and the end of the series to help students and parents learn more.

Click here to download the full calendar of events. Webinars will be held over Zoom and can be found here.

Questions can be directed to the state’s financial aid hotline: 877-987-7664.

West Virginia Guard Unit Flying to Puerto Rico

The West Virginia Air National Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing has sent a transport plane and crew from Charleston to support relief efforts in storm-damaged Puerto Rico.

According to the Air National Guard, the C-130 Hercules plane is transporting equipment from New York to Georgia before departing for the Caribbean island on Thursday.

Col. Randy Huffman, vice wing commander of the 130th Airlift Wing, says they’re helping in the efforts for American citizens in desperate need.

Additionally, the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg is also transporting supplies and has airmen in Puerto Rico and Georgia helping with airfield operations.

The U.S. territory’s governor said Tuesday the official death toll from Hurricane Maria increased to 34.

Gov. Ricardo Rossello also said he believes the hurricane that struck on Sept. 20 with winds over 150 mph caused $90 billion in damage across the island.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Hundred Closing Friday

The last Disaster Recovery Center serving communities in northern West Virginia after devastating flash floods this summer will close this week.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Recovery Center in Wetzel County will close at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening, September 29.

The center, located at Hundred High School, opened after flooding in July devastated several communities in northern West Virginia.

Although the center is closing, flood victims can still register with FEMA by phone or online until October 17th.

Just over 800 people have registered for aid so far, and nearly $2.5 million has been granted to individuals throughout the region.

More information:

Survivors can register by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service can call the same helpline. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, should call 800-462-7585. Survivors with general questions or questions about their applications are encouraged to call the helpline or visit: www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

The number for the U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center is 800-659-2955. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339. For disaster program information visit SBA.gov/disaster.

Address and hours of operations until closing:

Wetzel County

Hundred High School Library

Hundred High School, 3490 Hornet Highway, Hundred, WV 26575

Monday through Friday (the last day) 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Flood Ravaged Communities Look to the Future with Long-Term Recovery Committees

About three weeks after June’s historic flooding, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin appointed Major General James Hoyer of the West Virginia National Guard as Chief Recovery Coordinator – tasked with building a team of volunteers to lead flood recovery efforts in southeastern West Virginia. Hoyer asked state Senator John Unger to be one of those team members.

Unger is a Democrat from Berkeley County  and is no stranger to flood relief – having worked in recovery efforts abroad in Kolkata, India with Mother Teresa, in both Gulf Wars, and in southern West Virginia.

Hoyer asked Unger to spearhead an initiative to help the twelve heaviest affected counties form “Long-term Recovery Committees.” West Virginia Public Broadcasting sat down with Unger and brings us this report.

What are these “Long-Term Recovery Committees?”

  • A community committee put in place for the long-term to help the flood affected areas in West Virginia get back on their feet and rebuild.
  • They’re made up of non-government organizations; faith groups, private sector businesses, volunteers, etc. to help provide labor, materials, or money to the cause – mostly through donations or fundraisers.

How many LTRCs?

How often do they meet? Where?

  • At least once a week.
  • Where they meet varies:
    • Greater Clay – meets at the Risen Lord Catholic Church in Maysel
    • Greater Greenbrier – West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg or at a middle school near Rainelle
  • Meeting locations and times are announced on their Facebook pages or by contacting directly.

 

Two Weeks Left to Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

There are only two weeks left for survivors of June’s devastating flooding to apply for federal grants or loans.

The deadline to apply for disaster assistance with either the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the U.S. Small Business Administration is on Wednesday, August 24.

Survivors have been approved for grants and loans of more than $94 million.

More than $31 million has been approved by FEMA for individual housing assistance, nearly $6 million in other needs, over $4 million in public assistance and more than $24,000 in Disaster Unemployment.

The SBA approved 599 low-interest disaster loans of more than $39 million, and 941 National Flood Insurance Program claims have been filed with more than $12 million in payouts.

On August 13, Disaster Recovery Centers will be operating on new hours – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. DRCs are closed on Sundays.

Federal Emergency Management Agency:

  • Website: www.disasterassistance.gov
  • Phone: 1-800-621-3362

Small Business Administration:

  • Website: www.sba.gov/disaster
  • Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
  • Phone: 1-800-659-2955

New Orleans Saints to Aid Flood Victims in West Virginia

  The New Orleans Saints will be in West Virginia helping out after deadly floods ravaged the region where they hold training camp.

A news release says the Saints players and staff will be at Villa Park in White Sulphur Springs on Wednesday to help with flood relief. Their training camp begins nearby Thursday morning at The Greenbrier Sports Performance Center.

The June 23 floods killed 23 people and destroyed homes, businesses and infrastructure. Fifteen of the 23 killed were in the Greenbrier County, where the Saints will train for part of the summer.

Exit mobile version