FEMA Home Center Stations Closing After Successful Run 

Release Date: November 5, 2004
Release Number: 1558-088

» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The last flood mitigation outreach station at an area home improvement center, in Wellsburg, Brooke County, will close November 14, officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced.

Since September's Hurricane Ivan flooding, FEMA has operated question-and-answer stations at home improvement centers in four Ohio Valley communities - Moundsville, New Martinsville and Wellsburg in West Virginia and St. Clairsville in Ohio. The last one - at the Robert Scott Lumber Yard in Wellsburg - will open at 8 a.m., Monday, November 8, and close at 6 p.m., Sunday, November 14.

"Our home improvement center drop-in stations have served over 1,000 residents. They have had questions on everything from building and rebuilding to flood insurance and dealing with mold and mildew," said Lou Botta, FEMA's federal coordinating officer. "The information shared in those conversations has been a great way to help lessen flood damage."

FEMA has been at the home improvement centers in partnership with the state of West Virginia and the state of Ohio. The intent is to explain techniques that can lessen damage to homes, businesses and property from future flooding. Brochures have been available on the National Flood Insurance Program and flood-avoidance techniques such as retrofitting.

FEMA officials thanked the 84 Lumber, Home Depot, Lowes and Robert Scott Lumber Yard centers that made space available for the outreach stations.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Friday, 05-Nov-2004 17:16:16