CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Legislature intends to make short work of a bill to provide millions of dollars in funding for West Virginia’s flood cleanup and recovery costs.
State leaders said the House of Delegates, which will be in Charleston on Sunday evening for an interim session, hopes to take up the flood recovery funding bill that evening, likely passing the bill on the floor
The state Senate then would take up the bill as soon as possible, likely Monday morning.
State leaders, including Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Senate President Bill Cole and House Speaker Tim Armstead, met earlier this week to prepare for the bill’s passage. Tomblin announced Friday the special session, with just one agenda item, will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday.
MORE Read the governor’s special session proclamation request
Armstead, who appeared this morning on MetroNews Talkline, said this is an important step to rebuild and reimburse flooded communities. He said those involved wish they could move even faster.
“It’s a very slow process to rebuild communities that have been hit like ours have been,” Armstead told Talkline host Hoppy Kercheval.
Armstead added, “Things are moving along but obviously not at the pace we’d like.”
When the Legislature gathers this weekend, the state intends to dedicate $85 million to flood costs.
That’s a starting point. The ultimate goal is to get the federal government to pay a larger share of the estimated $339,760,963 costs related to June’s flooding.
Hang tight for some math: If West Virginia meets the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s threshold of $253 million in disaster-related costs, FEMA would cover 90 percent, leaving the state responsible for the remaining 10 percent.
If approved by the White House, the 90/10 split would kick in once funds are obligated, including funds for school construction.
That means state officials have to go ahead with with allocating funding for 25 percent of the total cost, which is how the $85 million figure was reached.
“The 90/10 decision could be months,” said Jessica Tice, spokeswoman for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.
She added, “The ultimate goal is for the state to pay as little as possible.”
Of the state’s share, $9 million would come from what’s left of general revenue surplus (yes, there is some), $21 million from Lottery money and then $55 million from the Rainy Day fund.
There’s also a more specific breakdown for where the total $339 million goes.
“This money will be going toward school rebuilding costs, toward public infrastructure and toward some of our other long-term recovery effort,” Tice said.
Here’s the full list:
- $88,763,765 for public assistance, which means paying for property damage and expenses incurred by local governments and non-profits
- $33,427,757 for individual assistance, which refers to people whose homes or rental properties suffered damage
- $6,460,441 for “other needs assistance,” which is kind of a hodgepodge category of more expenses related to individuals and households. It can include stuff like medical and dental expenses or burial costs
- $130,000,000 for schools, which will go to rebuild Herbert Hoover High School, Clendenin Elementary, Richwood High, Richwood Middle and Summersville Middle School
- $1,609,000 in “direct federal assistance,” mostly covering mobile home units
- $32,000,000 in stream cleanup performed by the West Virginia Conservation Agency
- $37,500,000 for “mitigation” to prevent any future dangers
- $10,000,000 in non-federal costs, another lumped together category of anything not covered by the federal government
“This is another step in a long process,” said Chris Stadelman, Tomblin’s chief of staff. “It is far from the end of the line.”
State leaders have also filed a separate request to the White House for an additional $310 million.
That money could be part of a congressional disaster relief funding package, also being pushed by Louisiana after that state’s’ devastating floods this summer. Louisiana is asking for $3 billion.
Officially, West Virginia’s second funding request would make it eligible for Community Development Block Grants for areas including housing, economic development, and infrastructure to support long-term, sustainable recovery and economic revitalization.
“What it guarantees is West Virginia’s seat at the table and being able to ask for grants,” Stadelman said.
The strategy would be to help hard-hit West Virginia communities not only get back on their feet but to diversify their economies. Projects could include rebuilding damaged water plants, rehabilitating homes and building public facilities, improving public services and supporting recovering businesses.
“We don’t want to go back to where we were before the flood,” Tice said. “Where do we want to be 10 years from now?”