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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.

FEMA Offers Guidance To Residents Seeking Flood Aid

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided guidance to residents seeking federal aid after floods ravaged several counties in southern and central West Virginia in August.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has distributed letters to some residents of Boone, Calhoun, Clay, Harrison and Kanawha counties affected by flooding in August 2023.

These letters were distributed to residents who applied for federal relief funds. They outline applicants’ eligibility for funds, and next steps to claim them.

Last summer, flash floods swept southern and central West Virginia, damaging homes and businesses across the counties.

On Jan. 30, President Joe Biden officially declared the flooding incident a major disaster, opening the region and its residents to federal recovery funds. The funds can be applied to home repairs, property loans and more.

Since the disaster declaration, FEMA has allocated more than $1 million to the West Virginia counties. FEMA supplied residents an additional $72,000 cumulatively for other disaster costs like childcare and medical expenses.

FEMA has encouraged individuals affected by the flooding to file insurance claims immediately. Costs not covered by insurance can be covered through FEMA funds, and an end date for the application period has not yet been announced.

For residents who have already submitted their applications, letters from FEMA regarding next steps should have already come, or soon be on their way.

The letters will state if residents need to submit supplemental information to complete their claims, like proof of insurance, proof of occupancy in a house affected by the flooding and proof of ownership of said property.

FEMA encouraged residents to promptly submit necessary supplemental materials and to follow guidance provided in the letters. FEMA also encouraged residents who have not yet filed a claim to do so as soon as possible.

For more information on the eligibility letters, residents can contact FEMA’s Disaster Assistance Helpline at (800) 621-3362, or visit disaster recovery centers in Boone, Clay, Harrison or Kanawha counties.

For more information on the disaster declaration and submitting a federal aid claim, residents can visit fema.gov/disaster/4756.

FEMA Major Disaster Declaration Aids 5 Flood-Affected Counties

Residents in Boone, Calhoun, Clay, Harrison and Kanawha counties can apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

President Joe Biden has issued a major disaster declaration for five West Virginia counties affected by flooding in late August.

Residents in Boone, Calhoun, Clay, Harrison and Kanawha counties can apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

They can receive grants for temporary housing and home repairs, as well as low-interest loans for uninsured property losses.

Homeowners and business owners can apply by registering with FEMA, by using the FEMA app or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Flooding Committee Hears Update On Damage And FEMA Response

The community has not received a disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) yet. If there is a FEMA declaration there will be public and individual assistance. Public assistance will aid in recovering infrastructure while individual assistance will help homeowners.

The legislature’s Joint Committee on Flooding met Sunday to discuss the recent flooding in eastern Kanawha County.

Members of the committee learned that two homes were completely destroyed, 32 homes have major damage, 54 homes have minor damage, and 22 private bridges were destroyed in the flash floods that took place along Little, Fields, and Slaughters creeks in late August.

Director of Kanawha County’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management, C.W. Sigman says only 9 percent of residents affected by the flood had flood insurance.

“They are not going to get compensated 100 percent. They’ll have enough money, if we get a FEMA declaration, to kind-of get them back on their feet,” Sigman said.

Emergency Alert Sytems

Sigman also discussed the need for better alert systems for rural communities since many flood victims did not receive any emergency warning until after the flood had begun.

“We’re looking at putting sirens in. We just put some in in the Loudendale area,” Sigman said.

However Sigman said that sirens are not the most effective alert system in mountainous regions like West Virginia. He said that better cell phone connectivity would be another possible way to reach rural residents.

“I am an old volunteer firefighter. Sirens (are) not very good at alerting volunteers. It’s not gonna be very effective for alerting the public,” Sigman said. “So that wireless emergency alert is a proven performer on your cell phone.”

National Emergency Alert Test Planned On Oct. 4

A national Emergency Alert System test will begin Wednesday at approximately 2:20 p.m.

A national emergency alert system test will begin Wednesday at approximately 2:20 p.m. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission will be testing an alert system that notifies the public of national, state or local emergencies.

The text will display on smartphones in either Spanish or English, depending on the language settings. An alert will also go out on radio and TV. Kanawha County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman said if you get an alert outside of routine testing it generally means something very serious is going on.

“It means to pay attention to alerts, go inside, turn on your TV or radio. Try to get more information,” he said.

He said the use of TV, Radio and Cellular alerts helps provide wider coverage, especially for areas with no cellular signal.

“The emergency alert will kind of tell you what’s going on but you may want more information to know what kind of protective actions you should take,” Sigman said.

To ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including residents with disabilities, the alerts will have a unique tone and vibration.