Gianato: State to seek public and individual disaster assistance following recent flood

WASHINGTON, D.C. — West Virginia will seek both public and individual assistance in a federal disaster declaration following last weekend’s flood along the U.S. Route 250 corridor in north central West Virginia and parts of the Northern Panhandle.

State Emergency Management Director Jimmy Gianato, who was in Washington, D.C. Tuesday meeting with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said he’s confident at the very least several counties will get public assistance.

“It will help with our schools, our public infrastructure, water, sewer, highways, those type of things,” Gianato said Tuesday on MetroNews “Talkline.” “We’re going to seek both the public assistance declaration and the individual assistance.”

A total of seven counties will be targeted for public assistance with four of those counties also being targeted for individual assistance, Gianato said.

“We’re currently looking at Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and Marion for individual assistance,” he said. “Those are the worst hit.”

Damage assessment teams will continue their work through the rest of the week with FEMA representatives joining those teams, Gianato said. He hopes the assessments for the four individual assistance counties will be done by the weekend.

As of right now, it appears there were 600-700 homes that sustained some level of damage, Gianato said.

“You didn’t have the rapid water in a lot of cases like you did in (June) 2016 (flood) that literally washed homes off their foundations,” Gianato said. “But what you have here is very similar to a river flood where the water comes up gets into homes and goes back down but it still does significant damage to those homes.”

Floors and walls will have to be replaced in some cases, Gianato said.

“The damage is still there although the structure itself is not totally destroyed,” he said.

Eight West Virginia counties remain under a state of emergency issued Saturday by Gov. Jim Justice including Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Marion, Harrison, Monongalia, Taylor and Tucker counties.





More News

News
As Yeager Airport's Wildlife Patrol Dog turns 7, a new dog comes in to learn from him
The new Border Collie is getting acclimated and receiving training for his soon-to-be role.
March 28, 2024 - 6:30 pm
News
Dunlow Volunteer Fire Department closes
The Dunlow VFD did not have a valid workers compensation insurance policy.
March 28, 2024 - 6:20 pm
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