CALHOUN RECEIVES LITTLE HELP WITH STORM DAMAGE - Public Facilities Will Be Covered

(03/30/2003)
The Federal Emergency Management agency has approved $525,000 in individual and housing assistance for several residents in county's affected by ice and snow storms and recent flooding.

Calhoun has not qualified for FEMA assistance. While the ice storm may have done millions of dollars in damage to the county's forestland, so far there seems to be little help.

Although more than 30 counties were eligible for some kind of assistance, mostly to public facilities, only residents in seven counties are eligible for individual and housing assistance.

The most assistance has been approved for Lincoln County. Officials say 54 property owners will receive a total of $125,000. Residents in Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Mingo, Roane and Wayne have also been approved and will; receive some help.

FEMA officials are urging all state residents, who received some kind of storm damage, to at least register with FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA.

Numerous Calhoun residents have made calls and placed claims, but little if any of the damage will be covered.

Disaster recovery centers are open in Jackson, Lincoln, Wayne, and Kanawha counties.