WISE ANNOUNCES COUNTIES ADDED TO
WEST VIRGINIA DISASTER DECLARATION

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Bob Wise today announced that six West Virginia counties are eligible to receive federal Public Assistance grant money.
Wise said he is confident the Federal Emergency Management Agency will authorize Public Assistance to many more West Virginia counties.

“Our goal is to get assistance as quickly as possible to our counties and our citizens,” Wise said. “Our local, county and state responders acted quickly, and so did FEMA. We are thankful for that."

Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan and Wayne counties are now eligible for Public Assistance, which is designed to help state, county and local governments pay for damage to public property and/or disaster response overtime for employees. Certain non-profit organizations also are eligible.

“We are delighted six counties have been declared eligible for Public Assistance, but the evaluation process is ongoing,” Wise said. “I’m confident 20 additional counties will be eligible.”

A federal Disaster Declaration was granted last weekend, paving the way for FEMA to authorize Individual Assistance and Public Assistance money to West Virginia’s residents and counties, respectively. Individual Assistance grants are designed to help residents recover some flood-related expenses.

Twenty-two counties had previously been announced as eligible for Individual Assistance. They are: Boone, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Marion, McDowell, Mercer, Monongalia, Monroe, Nicholas, Putnam, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel and Wyoming. Citizens who suffer damages as a result of the storms should call FEMA to apply for assistance. The number is 1-800-621-3362.