West Virginia Governor Manchin Requests The Addition Of Three Counties To The Federal Disaster Declaration

Additional areas can be added as damage assessments continue

May 25, 2009 -- CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin has requested the addition of McDowell, Mercer and Raleigh Counties to the current federal disaster declaration for southern West Virginia, following severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides that occurred earlier this month.

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The governor has requested the addition of McDowell and Raleigh Counties for both Individual and Public Assistance and he has requested the addition of Mercer County for Public Assistance.

If approved, this designation will enable federal funding and personnel to be allocated to assist individuals and government agencies and some private non-profit s with clean up efforts and to provide additional assistance to those who were directly affected by the flooding and storms. The governor hopes that these counties can be added quickly and assistance in these counties will begin as soon as possible.

“We continue to assess the damage caused by these tremendous storms to our state. As a result of these ongoing assessments, I am requesting the addition of these three counties. As we continue to evaluate the damage in other parts of our state, we may request that the President include others as well,” said the governor.

The initial declaration covered Mingo and Wyoming counties. To date, more than $3.8 million in housing assistance has been approved and 2300 citizens have registered for assistance.

In order to receive assistance from FEMA, citizens must first register with FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA, Call TTY (800) 462-7585 for people with speech or hearing disabilities or by visiting the web site www.diasterhelp.gov.

Source: West Virginia Governor