Flood victims await FEMA response, WV officials urge Trump to approve Major Disaster Declaration
WEST VIRGINIA (WVVA) - UPDATE: Major Disaster Declaration issued for four Southern W.Va. counties
Flash flooding began devastating Southern West Virginia on Saturday, the following Monday Governor Patrick Morrisey requested a Major Disaster Declaration from the federal government and now struggling mountaineers are still awaiting for a response from The White House.
Gov. Morrisey says his application included information on the destruction in 14 counties, with Mingo and McDowell Counties being two of the hardest hit.
Friday morning Gov. Morrisey added Monroe County to the FEMA request.
“We know that some of the highest priority counties.. we feel very good that they should meet the trigger to qualify for FEMA assistance.. I am very hopeful especially when you look information on the damage in Mingo and McDowell,” said Gov. Morrisey in a press conference today.
On Monday, all of West Virginia’s Senators and Representatives signed a letter urging President Trump to approve the Governor’s request so that federal aid may begin moving into Southern West Virginia.
“We’re going to keep pressing this” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) “Hopefully FEMA will rise to the occasion here and help us out, they have in the past.”
As West Virginians await federal aid they are helping their neighbors as much as they can.
“I can’t emphasize enough how good people have been on the ground, the local counties we’ve been communicating with.. the amount of volunteer assistance pouring in, it makes you very proud to be a West Virginian,” said Gov. Morrisey.
But it is clear that mutual and state aid can only go so far to repair the hardest hit areas.
“I wouldn’t say all of the volunteers are going to take the replacement of good solid FEMA response. We have to have that declaration from the President before we can move forward and we’re working on that,” said Senator Moore Capito.
West Virginia residents are continuing to be urged to fill out this damage survey to bolster the application to FEMA.
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