CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than $6.6 million in grants from the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program has been made available statewide in response to the deadly and devastating June 2016 flooding, Gov. Jim Justice announced.
“We are leaving no stone unturned to find ways to help our people,” Gov. Justice stated in an announcement. “Our fellow West Virginians who endured all that devastation and all that sorrow deserve nothing less.”
This is money through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
That’s a different source of funding than the Community Development Block Grant funds for disaster relief through U.S. Housing and Urban Development that have been the focus of long-term flood relief in West Virginia over the past few weeks.
General James Hoyer of the West Virginia National Guard made mention of the Hazard Mitigation grants this morning during a press briefing on long-term flood relief.
The newly-announced money will help nearly two-dozen communities in nine counties provide backup power generators for water and wastewater treatment plants and systems. It will also fund generator purchases for other locations as well as help communities acquire or elevate property.
Nearly half the total, $3 million, will be of benefit statewide. That grant will fund a risk assessment process that can pinpoint locations throughout West Virginia in floodplains or otherwise exposed to potential flooding, landslides, and other hazards.
The projects aim to help communities recover from flood damage in ways that reduce the likelihood of future loss of life and property.
The funds were secured through the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, which has been working with these communities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop Hazard Mitigation grants project applications.