PHILADELPHIA, Pa. . — A year after the catastrophic flood in West Virginia the Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to calculate the cost. FEMA case workers remain on the ground servicing flood victims in 18 counties where were declared federal disaster areas soon after the high water.
“A key part of our work has been to support the state and local communities as they identify grant projects to repair, restore or replace flood-damaged facilities that best support their communities’ needs,” said West Virginia Recovery Office Director Steve Ward.
During the past year 4,950 West Virginia flood victims have received $42 Million in individual and household assistance. The breakdown of the funding includes $35.5 Million for housing assistance and $6.6 Million for other expenses like transportation, furnishings, and medical expenses.
More than $6 Million has been allocated to communities in the flood zone for rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by the high water. Another $213,160 was provided for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. The allocation provided temporary jobless benefits to those whose job was lost or self employment business was disrupted by the flood waters.
The Recovery Office will also observe the solemn occasion on Friday to remember those who were killed in the high water with a pause in their work.
“We’re also marking the anniversary of the federal disaster declaration to remember those who died and to renew our commitment to the people of West Virginia,” said Ward. “We’ll continue, working with our State and local partners, to help flood survivors recover from the disaster and help their communities rebuild stronger, safer and more resilient.”