CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Residents across eight Central West Virginia counties still working to pull themselves out of damages left behind by early April storms now have an extended time to receive disaster assistance.
FEMA announced that the deadline for federal assistance from the April 11th and 12th floods, mudslides, and landslides has been extended to Saturday, November 2. The deadline had been originally set for September 3.
FEMA Media Relations Specialist Trey Paul said they granted that extension for the affected Boone, Hancock, Kanawha, Marshall, Ohio, Roane, Wetzel and Wood counties at the request of Governor Jim Justice.
“So here’s why, he cited that the continued flow of new applications for federal assistance in the wake of those April 11th and 12th storms that included flooding, mudslides and landslides, and we are still seeing folks who are dealing with the aftermath of those storms,” Paul said.
In addition, the two Disaster Recovery Centers they have open at Madison City Hall in Boone County and at the former National Guard Armory in Spencer in Roane County will be open on Labor Day, this Monday, September 2.
Paul said staying open on the holiday is only a continued effort for FEMA to be as accommodating to storm victims as possible.
“We are just trying to meet the survivors where they are and reach out to them as best we can, and we know sometimes people work during the week and they don’t have time to come in, so in the event that they’re off, we can assist them and they can stop by on one of their off days, assuming that they’re not working on Labor Day,” he said.
The DRCs are open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
FEMA disaster assistance grants are available to homeowners and renters. This assistance can come in the form of temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and serious disaster-related needs.
Paul said while he hates to see residents having to go through the often tedious process of cleaning up and repairing their homes from the storm aftermath, it has been wonderful being able to help them.
“We’re just happy that people are continuing to reach out to us, ask for assistance, and we’re happy to provide that to them, so that’s why we have extended, we’re trying to meet these survivors where they are and we’re trying to stay here for as long as we’re needed,” said Paul.
As usual, residents can apply for assistance by visiting a DRC near them, registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, downloading the FEMA app, or by calling the FEMA Helpline at (800)621-3362.