Tag: Federal Emergency Management Agency

Justice Calls On FEMA, Lawmakers To Supplement Storm Aid

After intense storms last week, Gov. Jim Justice is seeking federal aid from FEMA and the creation of an on-retainer state emergency fund by West Virginia lawmakers.

Updated on Wednesday, April 10 at 3:35 p.m.

Gov. Jim Justice is developing a disaster declaration request for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) over severe weather events that occurred across West Virginia last week.

If approved, the request would grant federal relief funding to West Virginia residents affected by last week’s incidents, which included flooding, tornadoes, and destructive winds. The storms claimed the life of one Wood County resident and wrought structural and property damage statewide.

To qualify as a FEMA disaster, weather emergencies must reach a threshold of local damage that warrants federal intervention.

To strengthen the state’s case for a disaster declaration, Justice said during a virtual press briefing Wednesday that he would combine each of last week’s incidents into a single request.

“The problem with FEMA is they want a great number of people that are affected, or a great amount of property damage,” he said.

Justice has already declared ongoing states of emergency for 12 different counties in response to the incidents. These declarations facilitate state-level emergency response efforts, but do not secure the funding a FEMA disaster declaration provides on the federal level.

During the call, Justice also voiced disapproval of state lawmaker’s inaction on aspects of his budget proposal for the 2024 regular legislative session, which he said would have aided the state’s response to the emergencies so far.

Storms in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle elevated the Ohio River’s water levels, causing severe flooding in nearby Wheeling last week.

Photo Credit: Wheeling Fire Department

Justice specifically pointed to a $50 million emergency fund that he requested to have on retainer for unexpected crises.

“The $50 million in regard to emergency funds, because of catastrophic events within our state, is something that is so important,” he said. “It’s unbelievable.”

But, in a statement following Wednesday’s briefing, Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, pushed back against Justice’s characterization of budget proceedings.

Hanshaw said that any funding set aside in this year’s budget would not yet have been accessible in response to last week’s storms.

Additionally, Hanshaw said that the state’s $85 million Civil Contingent Fund can be applied toward immediate disaster relief with the governor’s approval.

“If the governor wishes to respond to this tragedy in any way, he has the full capacity to do so, unfettered by the Legislature,” he said.

Justice has already declared that he will call lawmakers back to the Capitol before May 14 for a special session of the West Virginia Legislature, with expansions to the state’s budget at the top of his mind.

In pushing for these expansions, Justice said he will renew calls for the state to set aside an emergency relief fund. 

“I will surely put that back on the call,” he said.

**Editor’s note: This story was updated to include a comment from Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay.

Less Than Three Weeks Left To Claim Aid For Flood Damages

The deadline to file a federal aid claim over personal property damaged in August 2023 flooding incidents is April 1. West Virginia residents of several counties can receive grants for damages not covered by insurance.

West Virginia residents have until April 1 to claim federal aid for property damages or losses resulting from flash flooding in August 2023.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the deadline for filing claims Wednesday. It applies to residents of Boone, Calhoun, Clay, Harrison and Kanawha counties.

Last summer, flash flooding ravaged homes and businesses across southern and central West Virginia. In January, President Joe Biden declared the incident a major disaster, which allowed residents to claim federal disaster recovery funds through FEMA.

So far, more than $1 million has been allocated to disaster recovery efforts.

FEMA grants do not need to be repaid, and the organization encourages residents to apply for aid even if they have insurance. FEMA does not provide grants for damages covered by insurance, but will subsidize costs not covered through insurance claims.

Although most aid claims focus on structural damages, FEMA can also help cover some specific damages not included in insurance plans. This can include wells, furnaces, private roads, private bridges and septic systems.

For more information on how to file a claim, residents can contact FEMA’s Disaster Assistance Helpline at 1 (800) 621-3362, or visit disaster recovery centers in Boone, Clay, Harrison or Kanawha counties.

To learn more about filing a claim online, visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

W.Va. Governor: Public Not In Danger From Train Chemicals

Speaking during his regular briefing Thursday, the governor offered an update on the chemical spill from a freight train that derailed near East Palestine, Ohio nearly two weeks ago.

As a plume of chemicals slowly makes its way down the Ohio River, Gov. Jim Justice said “thus far” there is no danger to public drinking water supplies. 

Speaking during his regular briefing Thursday, the governor offered an update on the chemical spill from a freight train that derailed near East Palestine, Ohio nearly two weeks ago.

Justice said the Emergency Management Division (EMD), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and the West Virginia National Guard are “on top” of the situation.

Scott Mandirola, deputy cabinet secretary for the DEP said his agency is coordinating with the Ohio River Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as it monitors the water quality of the Ohio River.

Mandirola said samples of water collected Wednesday along the Ohio River from Ravenswood to Parkersburg show low concentrations of the chemical butyl acrylate, below three parts per billion. 

“These preliminary monitoring results are still well below the provisional health guidance values issued by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which is 560 parts per billion for drinking water and continuing to decrease as the plume travels downstream,” he said. 

He said the Greater Cincinnati Water Works is running confirmation samples to quantify concentrations. 

Mandirola said the plume is estimated to reach the Huntington area by late Friday or early Saturday morning.

“The leading edge of the plume is estimated to be near mile marker 264 today on the Ohio River which is near Point Pleasant, and the mouth of the Kanawha River,” he said. 

He said the influx of water from the Kanawha River and current rainfall will further help to dilute the plume as it makes its way downstream.

The DEP has air monitoring stations in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. Mandirola said, so far, there have been no effects to air quality stemming from the derailment. 

The U.S. EPA meanwhile continues to conduct air monitoring around the perimeter of the crash site in Ohio. Mandirola said they have not detected any concentrations of contaminants above health advisory levels. 

“We know that the public is rightly concerned about this issue,” said Commissioner of the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health Matt Christianson. 

He said his department has been cooperating with all of its state partners as it closely monitors the situation.

“DHHR and the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health have worked very closely with water companies as we learned of this spill and of this potential contamination and have offered guidance to those water companies as this plume has passed,” Christianson said.

On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., announced that she fully expects the Senate and House of Representatives in Washington to hold hearings on the Ohio train derailment.

Gov. Justice Announces Another Round Of Additional Unemployment Benefits

Gov. Jim Justice says some West Virginians on unemployment will be able to receive an extra $400 weekly benefit.

Because of a congressional stalemate over another coronavirus relief package, an additional benefit of $600 expired on Aug. 1. The following week, President Donald Trump took executive action and called for states to cover $100 of an additional $400 to those on unemployment.

The federal portion of West Virginia’s newest round of additional benefits will come through $68.3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. WorkForce West Virginia acting Commissioner Scott Adkins said FEMA has set aside $44 billion for states to use for the extra benefits.

Adkins said to be eligible for the additional $400, unemployed workers would have to have been able to receive at least $100 a week in standard benefits. 

If unemployed workers are not eligible for at least $100 in weekly benefits, they would still be able to receive an additional $100, but not the remaining $300.

The additional benefits are retroactive to Aug.  1. 

 

W.Va. To Receive $52 Million From FEMA To Rebuild Herbert Hoover High In Kanawha County

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide West Virginia $52.3 million to rebuild Herbert Hoover High School after devastating flooding in 2016 damaged the building. 

The original school building was demolished last fall after it was determined to be beyond repair.

West Virginia Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin made the announcement of the funding from FEMA in a press release Friday.

Since the 2016 flood, students and staff at Herbert Hoover High School have held classes on the grounds of Herbert Hoover Middle, outside of Clendenin in Kanawha County. The high school has been operating out of fenced in portable structures linked with a covered pier since 2017. 

Students have access to science labs, smart TVs and a commons area with a covered plaza. 

Herbert Hoover High’s Principal Mike Kelley said in a phone call with West Virginia Public Broadcasting that he and his staff are excited to finally be moving forward. He said, while they are grateful for the temporary facility, it is not built to last like the new building will be. He said the new building will allow the students and community to flourish and create a “new home for the Huskies.”

The new school is expected to be completed in 2021.

This summer marked three years since the 2016 flood that killed 23 people, destroyed homes, schools and businesses, and caused about $300 million worth of damages.

W.Va. Lawmakers Hear Disaster Response Tips

One of the first presentations West Virginia lawmakers heard after gaveling in for the 2018 state Legislative session was one to help them more effectively guide their districts in the face of emergencies.

Since 2009, there have been 21 state emergency proclamations, 10 Federal Emergency Management Agency major disaster declarations, and 4 FEMA emergency declarations – that’s according to Jimmy Gianato, Director of the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Both Gianato and Major General James Hoyer of the West Virginia National Guard spoke with lawmakers about the best steps to take to ensure proper aid is sent efficiently when disasters occur.

Hoyer told lawmakers it’s important to first communicate with their local Emergency Operations Center.

“If you can continue to encourage people at your level in your districts, to flow their requests up through the local EOC,” Hoyer said, “it significantly helps us in managing that overarching piece by flowing things to the right focus points for us to get to.”

Those focus points could include coordinating additional aid or supplies, volunteer groups, or reaching out to FEMA if a situation is bad enough.

“The quicker we can document damage and push it up to FEMA, the sooner we can get a declaration, which means, the flow of federal money comes faster.”

Hoyer and Gianato said, however, districts should be prepared enough to go up to 72 hours before additional aid is sent.

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