The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is continuing to support response and recovery efforts in West Virginia following the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that have been affecting the state and its people. The National Weather Service has indicated that the floodwaters are receding in parts of West Virginia, but more heavy rain is expected in areas already hit hard by flooding. A flash flood watch for 22 counties has been issued until Monday evening. Heavy rains could cause some streams to breach their banks.
On June 25, 2016, President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the State of West Virginia. This declaration releases federal funding to help individuals and communities recover from the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that occurred June 22, 2016, and continuing. The request makes assistance to individuals and households in Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties. The request also provides emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program for Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties. All of West Virginia is eligible for hazard mitigation grant program (HMGP) funding.
FEMA’s main priority is to support survivors and communities in West Virginia, and as of Monday morning, over 1,000 total registrations for FEMA Individual Assistance program have been counted as a result of the Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) conducted in the area that began today. PDAs are an information gathering process that measures damages and the impact to communities. 14 PDA teams have arrived to conduct PDAs for both Public Assistance and Individual Assistance.
FEMA is working to provide commodities and support to the State of West Virginia’s distribution efforts. The agency has moved water and food supplies into West Virginia and is turning them over to West Virginia Emergency Management Agency for distribution to impacted communities. In support of the State of West Virginia, FEMA has deployed over 250 staff to the state to assist in response and recovery. An Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) has arrived to coordinate directly with the State of West Virginia and support requests for assistance.
The first Disaster Recovery Center is planned to be open soon, where survivors can go to get assistance and information. Details and confirmation will be forthcoming as soon as they are available. To support that effort, the federal agency is working to deploy Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams to impacted areas to canvas shelters and register survivors.
The State of West Virginia, the American Red Cross, FEMA and others are working together to meet any potential housing needs. Region III’s Voluntary Agency Liaison and Disability Integration Specialist has been deployed to work with and support voluntary agencies, communities, and individuals with access and functional needs.
FEMA is encouraging all individuals, households, and businesses both inside and outside of Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas Counties to document any damages they have. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.
• The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
Photo credit: Jamela Krajeski
