Gov. Morrisey discusses next steps in flood recovery now that a federal disaster declaration has been approved

By Autumn Shelton, RealWV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Friday, Gov. Patrick Morrisey held a press conference where he discussed the next steps for ongoing flood recovery efforts in multiple West Virginia counties. 

According to Morrisey, on Wednesday, he received notification that the federal government had approved a major disaster declaration for flooding in Mingo, McDowell, Mercer and Wyoming counties beginning Feb. 15. 

This declaration will make federal funding available in the form of individual assistance to residents in those counties, including grants and low-cost loans to cover the costs surrounding temporary housing, home repairs and other losses. 

“In addition to that individual assistance, we also know that they’ve made available to us the Hazard Mitigation Program which also provides other longer term opportunities for the state to begin recovery,” Morrisey said, adding this is a first step in flood recovery. 

Morrisey said that the recovery process should be thought about in two phases: disaster response and recovery. 

“Our disaster response was aggressive and proactive,” Morrisey said. “One of the issues that’s come up, the question that’s come up, is, ‘How are things different than other states?’ I’m here to tell you that we went and aggressively put people on the ground. We immediately convened our emergency management team, and then we were able to start coordinating with our first responders, local emergency folks in the counties. We actually have mutual aid agreements in these counties that help facilitate the working relationship.” 

Morrisey said that because of this, West Virginia was able to respond quickly. 

West Virginia Department of Homeland Security Cabinet Secretary, Rob Cunningham, had discussed this initial response a little more in depth during a legislative meeting of the House Committee on Finance on Feb. 25. 

When asked why Kentucky had received a federal disaster declaration almost two weeks before West Virginia did, Cunningham responded that the Governors of each state had requested different types of aid from the federal government. 

“The declaration that was made in Kentucky is different than what we asked for,” Cunningham said. “Essentially, Kentucky was overwhelmed and they raised their hand and said, ‘We need an immediate declaration.’ And, in the simplest terms, that was how they got FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) on the ground immediately.” 

Cunningham explained that in West Virginia, however, the state was able to meet the immediate needs of those affected by the flooding, therefore the state only requested individual assistance. 

“We were able to bring in our own swift water teams, our own, we were utilizing the resources of our National Guard through the state of emergency and we were able to address all of those immediate, emergent needs,” Cunningham continued. “I think Kentucky’s was a little more widespread than what ours was. And that’s probably why they raised their hand and said, ‘We need help now.’”

During Morrisey’s press conference, the Governor said that “many people are still hurting” as a result of the flooding, but that the state will remain supportive as long as needed. 

Additionally, Morrisey said that in flood affected areas neighbors are helping neighbors. 

“Now, there’s a lot of work on the cleanup aspect of it, and there’s obviously a lot of debris that’s going to need to be removed in the days, weeks and months ahead,” Morrisey said. “I do want to remind folks that for the National Guard to remove any of this debris, it must be brought to the street or put to the curb.”

A mobile medical unit is being operated by the Department of Health and volunteers from Welch Community Hospital, Morrisey said. 

“As of this morning, we do not have any outstanding need requests that we’re not already working on to address,” Morrisey added. “There’s some that are in process, of course, but we’re all over this. That’s what we do. We are team West Virginia, and we come together.” 

FEMA disaster recovery centers will soon be in place in the four counties that have received a federal disaster declaration. 

Morrisey said it’s important for homeowners to take photos of damage and get ready to provide information to FEMA officials. 

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App.