FEMA grants over $5.6 million in disaster assistance following early April storms

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — FEMA says survivors of the early April storms and tornadoes have received more than $5.6 million in federal disaster assistance in the past 60 days since the presidential disaster declaration, and they continue to remain in West Virginia to assist in flood damages victims sustained the following week after the storms.

FEMA reports that West Virginia is well over the national average for disaster grant awards following the April 2-6 storms with more than $3.7 million in grants being approved for essential home repairs and for homeowners and renters who’s residences were completely destroyed.

In addition, they said more than $1.9 million went to homeowners to repair and replace certain household items and for disaster-related burial, medical and dental costs.

Finally, an additional $890,000 of the the $5.6 million went towards follow-up communications from FEMA staff.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also granted over $1.5 million in low-interest disaster loans to repair, rebuild and replace damaged property, which covers losses not fully covered by insurance.

The assistance went towards survivors across 11 counties including Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, Marshall, Nicholas, Ohio, Putnam, Wayne and Wetzel counties who were able to apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

More than 2,100 households within those counties contacted FEMA for the individual assistance. Over 990 survivors visited 13 Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs).

Local, county and state government infrastructure and certain private nonprofit organizations in seven counties: Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Preston, Tyler and Wetzel, were also eligible to receive funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance program to repair and rebuild certain eligible disaster-damaged facilities.

FEMA representatives continue to actively be on the ground in West Virginia now helping victims who sustained damage from storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides experienced in the following week on April 11 and 12.

They said residents in Hancock, Kanawha, Marshall, Ohio, Roane, Wetzel and Wood counties may be eligible for that disaster assistance.

FEMA is encouraging residents of those counties to visit a DRC before the deadline to register for assistance on September 3.

A DRC is currently operating in the following locations and during the following times:

.Hancock County Disaster Recovery Center
New Cumberland City Hall
104 North Court St

New Cumberland, WV 26407

Hours of operation: