Tag: Severe Storms

10 W.Va. Counties Under State of Emergency

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has added six counties to a group of three already under a state of emergency after severe flooding.

Tomblin added Clay, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Nicholas, Putnam and Roane counties to the state of emergency Tuesday. He signed a declaration Monday for Braxton, Webster and Wood counties.

The state of emergency seeks to address the rockslides, mudslides, severe flooding and property damage that resulted from heavy rain Sunday and Monday.

State agencies have workers in the three counties assessing damages.

With additional storms expected, 29 counties remain under a state of preparedness.

The state of emergency can trigger federal assistance if certain thresholds are met. It also doesn’t provide for direct individual assistance.

The state of preparedness allows advance preparation before predicted severe weather or large-scale threats.

Tomblin Issues States of Emergency and Preparedness

Governor Tomblin issued a State of Emergency Monday for three counties in West Virginia after heavy rainfall over the weekend that lasted into Monday morning.
The governor issued the State of Emergency for Braxton, Webster and Wood Counties, mobilizing state resources to combat severe flooding in those areas. 

 
“In the past 24 hours, areas of our state have experienced rockslides, mudslides and severe flooding as a result of major storms and substantial rainfall,” Tomblin said in a news release Monday. 

 
“State agencies have people in the field to help local offices of emergency management assess local damages, and additional state resources have been mobilized to prepare for a second major storm event expected to hit Monday evening.”

The governor has also issued a State of Preparedness for 35 other counties. This new designation allows the governor to activate resources before severe weather occurs.

 
Those counties include: Barbour, Boone, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Wirt and Wyoming.

Obama Signs W.Va. Disaster Declaration

President Obama has signed a major disaster declaration after severe storms last month caused damage in six counties.

Obama signed the declaration Thursday which makes federal aid available to support recovery efforts in Boone, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo and Wayne counties. 

The funding comes after severe storms caused flooding, landslides and mudslides in the counties from April 3-5 this year.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures across the state. 

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.

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