FEMA says again water emergency was not ‘major disaster’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — FEMA says ‘no’ again.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has turned down Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s appeal for a major disaster declaration following the Jan. 9 chemical spill on the Elk River in Charleston and the water emergency that followed.

(Read FEMA rejection letter here)

In a letter to Tomblin, FEMA administrator Craig Fugate said the agency once again reviewed the information from West Virginia following the governor’s latest appeal and still believes what happened with the spill of Crude MCHM and the water contamination in parts of nine counties was not a major disaster.

FEMA previously agreed to provide other kinds of assistance to the state. For example, government entities are being reimbursed for the money they spent in response to the emergency. Fugate said that’s “sufficient to meet the needs of the event.”





More News

News
PEIA examines financial effects of new law meant to ensure local pharmacies get fair reimbursements
Gov. Jim Justice signed Senate Bill 453 into law this week.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm
News
Barbour County woman sentenced after death case sent back to circuit court by Supreme Court
Carli Reed sentenced on voluntary manslaughter conviction.
March 28, 2024 - 4:11 pm
News
UMWA to fight planned Pennsylvania coal mine closure, 700 mining jobs at risk
Cumberland Mine less than 40 miles from Morgantown.
March 28, 2024 - 2:23 pm
News
Bridge collapse having an impact on West Virginia coal shipments
About third of the coal mined in northern West Virginia is shipped out of the presently idled Port of Baltimore
March 28, 2024 - 1:18 pm


Your Comments