CHARLESTON, W.Va. (The Hinton News) – Governor Patrick Morrisey has requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Donald J. Trump for Fayette, Harrison and Kanawha counties following severe storms and flooding that struck West Virginia from August 14 through August 18. The request seeks federal Individual Assistance for the three counties and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assistance statewide.
“Our communities have been hit hard by repeated storms and flooding, and too many West Virginia families are still trying to put their homes and lives back together,” Governor Morrisey said. “Our state, local communities, first responders, and volunteers have stepped up from day one. Now we are asking President Trump to approve this declaration so we can bring additional resources to the families and communities working to recover.”
Joint preliminary damage assessments identified 624 impacted residences across Fayette, Harrison and Kanawha counties. Of those, 22 homes were destroyed, 60 sustained major damage, 261 sustained minor damage and 281 were otherwise affected.
Kanawha County sustained the largest concentration of residential damage, with 375 impacted homes, including 17 destroyed and 41 with major damage. Harrison County recorded 179 impacted residences, including 13 with major damage, while Fayette County recorded 70 impacted residences, including five destroyed and six with major damage.
Preliminary estimates put total Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance associated with the disaster at nearly $4.48 million. That includes approximately $2.74 million in estimated Housing Assistance and $1.73 million in estimated Other Needs Assistance.
Flood insurance coverage among households in the affected counties is particularly low, averaging approximately 9.5 percent. The Governor’s request states that the combination of serious residential damage, limited insurance coverage and the financial circumstances of affected households has left many families without the resources necessary to recover on their own.
“When families lose their homes or face repairs they cannot possibly afford on their own, government should work together to help them recover,” Governor Morrisey said. “This is exactly why federal disaster assistance exists. We will continue fighting to make sure these communities have the resources they need to rebuild.”
West Virginia has committed state and local personnel, equipment, funding and other resources to protect residents, assess damage, assist displaced families and support recovery efforts. The request notes that repeated and overlapping disasters have placed additional strain on state, local and volunteer resources.
If approved, the Major Disaster Declaration would make Individual Assistance available to eligible residents in Fayette, Harrison and Kanawha counties. The state has reserved the right to amend the request to include additional counties or programs, including public assistance, as damage assessments continue.
