One Month after West Virginia Storms, Floods and Landslides
Release Date: June 3, 2002
Release Number: 1410-54
» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides
Beckley, WV -- Just one month after President Bush declared a major disaster for the state 5,163 persons in West Virginia have registered for disaster assistance, and nearly $11 million in federal and state assistance is helping them recover from the severe storms, flooding and landslides of early May.
The President designated the counties of McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming eligible for aid to flood-stricken individuals and business owners. After a further review of damages, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials expanded assistance to include permanent restoration of disaster-damaged public facilities in these four counties as well as for Logan and Summers counties.
FEMA Coordinator Justo Hernandez said that federal, state, local and voluntary agencies continue to work together to provide services to rebuild the community.
First, assistance to individuals includes grants from FEMA to help people with temporary housing and to make emergency home repairs. Second, loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offer eligible disaster applicants opportunities to recover from residential as well as business losses not fully compensated by insurance. Third, the State of West Virginia administers the Individual and Family Grant (IFG) program assisting individuals for other serious disaster-related needs; FEMA and the state jointly fund this program, 75 percent and 25 percent respectively.
The amount for state and federal disaster assistance for families and businesses now totals $10.8 million including $7.34 million approved by FEMA for temporary housing costs and $2.58 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest disaster loans. The state also has $0.88 million dollars in IFG grants.
"Many people still need housing, and we are moving full speed ahead into the recovery phase of the disaster," said Jack Schuback, deputy federal coordinating officer for the recovery effort. Those who incurred damages in the disaster designated areas have 31 days left to register for state and federal disaster assistance. The deadline to apply is July 5.
"Although July 5 sounds like a long way off, why wait? The sooner residents call the toll-free number, the faster we can get them into the system and get them the assistance they need," added Steve Kappa director of the West Virginia Office of Emergency Services.
To register for assistance, eligible applicants may call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with difficulty hearing or speaking may call the TTY number, 1-800-462-7585. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
City, county and other government officials seeking infrastructure assistance from the FEMA Public Assistance program have been briefed by disaster recovery officials. Their recovery process is ongoing.
Following is a comprehensive description of the response and recovery efforts to date by the West Virginia Office of Emergency Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other state, federal and voluntary agencies:
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES
American Red Cross (ARC)
- ARC opened six shelters and sheltered over 130 people. They also opened three service centers, processed over 1,000 cases for assistance and in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention fed over 167,000 meals from eight fixed sites and 15 mobile vehicles. They distributed over 2,200 clean-up kits along with bottled drinking water, flashlights and work gloves. ARC volunteers provided over 1,500 individuals with mental health counseling.
- To register for disaster assistance from the American Red Cross call 866-GET-INFO (866-438-4636).
Salvation Army
- The Salvation Army in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention has provided over 80,000 meals and snacks from six mobile and one fixed site. They distributed over 4,500 clean up kits and provided over 1,700 families with boxes of food and other supplies.
- It has also provided 950 individuals with additional care.
- To register for disaster assistance from the Salvation Army call 304-425-2971.
DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS (DRC)
- The state and FEMA have opened seven DRCs throughout the disaster-affected area. Five centers remain open to date. In addition, a mobile center will continue with multi-location operations.
- There have been more than 2,022 visits by disaster assistance applicants to the Disaster Recovery Centers.
REGISTRATIONS
- To date, 5,163 West Virginians from disaster designated counties have registered for assistance.
- The FEMA Helpline has received 3,999 calls from disaster assistance applicants requesting information or an update on their application status.
| County | Total Applicants |
| McDowell | 4,049 |
| Mercer | 750 |
| Mingo | 272 |
| Wyoming | 92 |
| * Total | 5,163 |
- Figures listed are as of close of business on Monday, June 3.
EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE
- FEMA has approved more than $7.34 million to 3,797 households to assist with temporary rental housing and minor home repairs. Even with all the state and federal aid for home repairs and rental assistance distributed thus far, FEMA housing officials still find people who are in need of temporary housing.
- Housing Staff with the help from Community Relations teams canvassing door-to-door in the more affected areas continue to work with applicants to identify housing needs.
- Mobile homes and travel trailers are available to those who need a place to live while repairs are being made or a more permanent housing plan is made. FEMA provides them on a case-by-case basis. Those who are eligible for housing assistance may request a travel trailer or mobile home by calling the Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 1-800-462-7585) or by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center.
DAMAGE INSPECTIONS
- To date, FEMA has inspected nearly 4,600 homes to assess disaster damages.
U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) DISASTER LOAN PROGRAM
- People impacted by the disaster have submitted 692 loan applications to SBA.
- SBA has approved more than $2.58 million in low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and business owners.
SBA provides low-interest, long-term loans to help homeowners, renters and non-farm businesses recover from a disaster. People may use SBA loans to repair or replace underinsured or uninsured disaster-damaged property.
THE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY GRANT PROGRAM (IFG)
The State of West Virginia has activated the Individual and Family Grant Program (IFG) to help people with unmet disaster-related needs not sufficiently covered by insurance or other disaster assistance programs. People can use these grants to cover disaster-related expenses such as essential home repairs, replacement of essential personal property or transportation. The state administers the program in which FEMA funds 75 percent and the state funds the remaining 25 percent.
- The State of West Virginia has approved more than $879 thousand in grants to more than 265 households.
HAZARD MITIGATION
Mitigation specialists at Disaster Recovery Centers have advised nearly 600 visitors to the Disaster Recovery Centers with information on how to make their homes safer and more secure from the effects of floods by repairing and rebuilding in disaster-resistant ways.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (INFRASTRUCTURE)
- The six counties designated eligible for public assistance removed have removed and disposed of 25,000 tons of the flood-related debris. FEMA pays 75 percent of the costs associated with eligible debris removal.
DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
Individuals living in the disaster area who are unable to work because of the recent flooding have until June 7 to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. They may make claims by visiting their local Unemployment Claims Office. Claims totaling $2,873 have been paid to 18 applicants as of May 31.
CRISIS COUNSELING
Crisis Counseling services are available for anyone affected by the recent storms. To receive help or information on crisis counseling, visit the FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center in your area. The hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
DISASTER WORKERS IN BECKLEY
- There are 288 persons currently working in West Virginia on the state/federal recovery effort. Several hundred more are supporting the operation from other locations.
- FEMA has hired local people to assist in the recovery efforts.
- Other federal, state and local agencies have more than 100 employees assisting.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 26-Aug-2003 17:01:59