Federal Disaster Loans Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

State Ranks High On Federal Disaster Spending

A new analysis looks at the impact of climate change over the last decade. Despite its size, West Virginia ranks high in disaster spending.

According to FEMA data, West Virginia had the 6th highest per capita spending on climate disasters in the country over the last decade, totaling $870 million or $481 per person.

Between 2011 and 2021, 90 percent of U.S. counties experienced a federal climate disaster. During that time period, every county in the state had a disaster declaration. Some had as many as 10.

The analysis, titled Atlas of Disaster, comes from Rebuild By Design, a collaborative focused on preparing communities for the challenges of climate change rather than reacting to them.

Rebuild by Design began as a design competition, launched by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in partnership with nonprofits and the philanthropic sector, in response to Hurricane Sandy’s devastating impact on the eastern U.S.

They suggest that strategic investment in climate infrastructure in 15 vulnerable West Virginia counties may have the greatest return, focusing on a dozen counties stretching from Greenbrier County across the state to Wayne County.

Nonprofit Disaster Loans Offered in Another Three W.Va. Counties

Private nonprofits in three West Virginia are now eligible to apply for federal disaster loans for damages caused by a March storm.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has added Fayette, Mercer and Tucker counties to the list of more than 20 counties where disaster loans are available for private nonprofits.

The low-interest loans are being offered to private nonprofits that provide non-critical services, such as food kitchens, homeless shelters, libraries and schools.

The SBA said Monday that June 1 is the deadline to apply for loans for physical property damage. Loan applications for economic injury must be submitted by Dec. 31.

W.Va. Small Businesses Face Disaster Loan Deadline

Time is running out for small businesses and nonprofits in six counties to apply for federal disaster loans.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest loans to small businesses and most private nonprofits in Calhoun, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Roane and Wirt counties that were affected by severe storms and rain in June 2013.

May 29 is the deadline to apply for the working capital disaster loans.

Loans of up to $2 million are available. The SBA says the loans are intended to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other expenses that could have been paid if the disaster hadn’t occurred.