| The Federal Emergency Management Agency has returned to West Virginia to establish a disaster field office following the
ice storms,snow storms,and floods.
Calhoun, according to a press release, is not currently qualified for help with property damage.
OES Director Bill Stemple says Calhoun County property owners might still qualify for some special assistance related to the recent storms. "We want them to make the call," he said. "The county could still qualify for more help."
Residents who have received property damage to homes or businesses from the flood or ice storm should report the damage to FEMA (call registration number 1-800-621-3362), said Stemple. Calhoun residents are urged to get a confirmation number of their call to FEMA.
Thirty-three counties have been declared disaster areas. The types of disaster each county is eligible varies.
Residents in Kanawha, Cabell, Jackson, Lincoln, Mingo, Roane, and Wayne counties will be eligible for individual
assistance, mostly linked to high water.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency says 24 counties are eligible for public assistance. That will allow state,
county, and local governments to apply for reimbursement of storm clean-up funds. Calhoun is in that group.
Eight counties, most of them in the eastern panhandle area, will be able to apply for snow removal reimbursement
funds.
West Virginia Office of Emergency Services spokesman Mark Rigsby says FEMA will establish its field office in Putnam
County. He says the agency will take calls there from state residents who are seeking assistance. Rigsby says all residents
who had property which sustained damage should call FEMA, even if they don't live in one of the designated counties.
Rigsby says some parts of the state got flooding, others ice, and others snow. He says the variety of the storm is one big
reason why the types of assistance available vary.
The registration number is 1-800-621-3362.
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