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PARKERSBURG - Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler and Wetzel counties are among 11 West Virginia counties approved for federal assistance to repair public infrastructure and cover emergency work following severe storms, flooding and landslides that began July 21.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced President Donald Trump approved the additional disaster assistance, which also covers Barbour, Doddridge, Lewis, Pendleton, Randolph, Tucker and Upshur counties.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance program provides funding on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work, debris removal and the repair or replacement of damaged public infrastructure, including roads and utilities.
Individual Assistance, which helps eligible residents recover from disaster-related losses, was previously approved for Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie and Upshur counties following the July storms.
"Our local emergency managers, first responders and volunteers worked alongside the state and FEMA to document the damage and make the case for this assistance," Morrisey said. "We will keep working to get resources where they are needed and help these communities rebuild."
Trump also approved Individual Assistance for Fayette, Harrison and Kanawha counties following severe storms and flooding Aug. 14-18.
According to FEMA, assistance available under that declaration can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and families recover. Individual Assistance can help eligible residents with uninsured or underinsured disaster-related losses.
Residents who sustained losses in those three counties should first file claims with their insurance providers and then apply for assistance, FEMA said. Applications can be submitted at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app or by calling 800-621-3362. People using a relay service should provide FEMA with the number for that service.
FEMA also reaffirmed its initial denial of Individual Assistance for Boone and Logan counties following flooding in June, according to the governor's office. The state had appealed the denial.
"We are disappointed by the decision on Boone and Logan counties, but we are not going to stop working for those communities," Morrisey said. "Families there suffered real losses, and we will continue working with state and local partners to identify resources that can help them recover."
Mark K. O'Hanlon was named federal coordinating officer for recovery operations under the August disaster declaration. FEMA said additional areas could be designated for assistance if warranted by further damage assessments.