Additional West Virginia Counties Now Eligible for Disaster Aid
Release Date: April 2, 2003
Release Number: 1455-17
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Charleston, WV - Eleven more West Virginia counties have been declared eligible for federal and state disaster individual assistance, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Louis Botta, federal coordinating officer. That raises the total to 18.
Aid could be in the form of low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) or by awards through FEMA.
He said residents of the declared counties might seek home and business repair loans from the SBA, or from the state if the applicant fails to meet SBA standards, and home repair or rental assistance from FEMA.
The action followed a request for extension of disaster aid by Gov. Bob Wise.
Counties added are Calhoun, Fayette, Greenbrier, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Nicholas, Raleigh, Upshur, Webster and Wyoming.
Residents who had losses resulting from the severe winter storm Feb. 16 now can register for assistance by calling FEMA's toll-free Helpline number, 800-621-FEMA (3362). For those with hearing or speech impairments, the number is (TTY) 800-462-7585.
Five more counties also were declared eligible for public assistance and added to the 24 already so designated, bringing the total to 29. FEMA's public assistance programs apply only to local and state governments and to certain non-profit agencies.
These added counties are Boone, Kanawha, Summers, Tyler and Wetzel.
Last Modified: Friday, 11-Apr-2003 16:04:12