BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Federal government representatives are setting up shop in West Virginia to assist victims who are part of the latest federal disaster declaration.
Teams with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the SBA (Small Business Administration) helped open a Disaster Recovery Center Tuesday in Bridgeport with plans for a three-day pop-up center to begin Wednesday at the Armstrong Volunteer Fire Department in Fayette County.
Bridgeport Director of Emergency Management Tim Curry said those with FEMA and the SBA want to help flood victims.
“This is what they do. They go all over the country after a disaster. They set up these centers and they help people get funds to help rebuild their lives,” Curry said.
The federal disaster declaration covers Harrison, Kanawha and Fayette counties for flooding Aug. 16-18.
Fayette County Emergency Management Director Jack Kincaid he’s glad to have FEMA in town.
“FEMA offers broad, broad services,” Kincaid said.
Pop-up DCRs will open in the days ahead in the Fayette County communities of Robson and Pax.
Kincaid said the help is coming pretty quickly considering.
“It’s been a couple of months but for a federal disaster that’s wharped speed,” he told MetroNews.
Curry said it’s improtant to point out that a FEMA grant isn’t a loan. He said it doesn’t have to be paid back but also the money isn’t designed to make a flood victim whole.
“It’s not a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement. If you had $10,000 damage to the your house, it’s not a dollar-for-dollar help from FEMA but the Small Business Administration will be here to to offer low-interest loans,” Curry said.
The regular hours for the Bridgeport DCR at city hall is 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, beginning Wednesday.
The SBA has a center at 1116 Smith Street in downtown Charleston.
Flood victims can sign-up on the FEMA app or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or going to disasterassitance.gov.