On July 21, a severe series of storms passed through large sections of northern and eastern West Virginia, creating damage to structures and highways, as well as causing damage from debris and rain-saturated hillsides. Last Thursday, President Donald Trump’s approval of disaster funding was announced by West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey.
Kanawha, Harrison, and Fayette counties were approved for Individual Assistance, while the State’s appeal on behalf of Boone and Logan counties was denied.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that agency “provides two main types of assistance following a presidentially declared declaration: Individual Assistance and Public Assistance.”
It defines Individual Assistance as “direct financial assistance to eligible individuals and families who have sustained losses due to disasters” and can help with with “uninsured or underinsured basic critical needs.” Assistance can cover rental assistance, lodging expense reimbursement, home repair assistance, “financial assistance to uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused personal property losses”, and other needs, including sanitation and cleaning assistance.
Applicants need a description of the damage, applicant contact information, 911 address “at time of the disaster”, insurance company, if appropriate, annual household income, bank account information for direct deposit, and any need for accommodation in application under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Said West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, “I want to thank President Trump and his administration for approving this assistance and continuing to stand with West Virginia as our communities recover.”
Public assistance will go to Pendleton, Tucker, Randolph, and eight other counties.