Federal disaster declared for five WV counties in response to August flooding

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repair, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the disaster, FEMA said Wednesday.

Federal funding also is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide, according to the agency.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA app available for download at bit.ly/FEMAdownload.

Additional designations could come later, if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, FEMA noted.

Deadline to register with feds typically 60 days after event

Typically, under the Individual Assistance Program, the deadline to register is 60 days after the disaster was declared, a FEMA spokesperson said Wednesday. But the spokesperson said the official deadline has not yet been publicly posted, and advised people to check for updates at bit.ly/FEMAWVdisaster.

The Kanawha County Commission said Wednesday it would work with state officials to organize site visits for those affected by the flood to access appropriate information regarding applying for assistance.

The federal disaster declaration is the fifth issued for areas of West Virginia in response to severe storms and flooding since the start of 2019.

A previous disaster declaration, issued in November 2022 for Fayette County in response to August 2022 severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides, resulted in $1.01 million in Public Assistance grant money obligated. FEMA public assistance provided to state and local governments, and some private nonprofits, helps communities recover from major disasters.

Another disaster declaration issued in November 2022 in response to July 2022 severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides for McDowell County resulted in $1.04 million in Public Assistance grant dollars obligated.

FEMA: W.Va. hasn’t yet requested public assistance

The state has not yet requested the Public Assistance Program. The state did, however, complete public assistance preliminary damage assessments jointly with FEMA, so the state may request public assistance as an add-on program in the future.

The state Emergency Management Division did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Flooding is West Virginia’s costliest and most severe natural hazard, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Of West Virginia’s 25 FEMA major-disaster declarations since 2010, 20 have been for severe storms and flooding events.