CHARLESTON, W.Va. — At the height of the response efforts following the June 23 flood the Federal Emergency Management Agency had as many as 600 staff members in West Virginia, those numbers have started to decrease in recent weeks.
The agency will close two more FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers Saturday. One in Crede in Kanawha County and the other in Richwood in Nicholas County. But spokesman Bob Howard said flood survivors can still contact the agency.
“People need to understand that doesn’t mean we’ve gone away,” he said. “They can call the 800 number (1-800-621-FEMA). They can talk to a live person and that person can pull up their application and walk through it.”
FEMA will continue operating DRCs in Clendenin, Rainelle and White Sulphur Springs. The deadline to register for FEMA assistance was extended by two weeks earlier this week. The deadline is now Sept. 7.
Public assistance experts with the agency will be in the 12-county flood zone for months to come, Howard said.
“They will be working with the counties on some of the major projects,” he said.
There are dozens of road projects to complete along with several new schools to be constructed with money through FEMA.
The federal Small Business Administration also continues to have a presence in the Mountain State. SBA has approved 661 loans (607 home, 52 business) for nearly $43 million. SBA spokesperson Mary Gipson believes there are still more residents the agency can help.
“Just register. Just complete the SBA’s application and all the rest will begin falling into place. Do not wait,” Gipson urged.
FEMA has approved more than $100 million so far in individual and public assistance.