August 23, 2017

EMERGENCY INFORMATION CENTER

My offices stand ready to assist you. If you need assistance or would like to volunteer to help out, please click here for more information. Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook for more updates.

LATEST UPDATES

8/23 - On August 25, The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is opening a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Marion County. SBA Representatives at the Center will be there to help businesses impacted by the severe flooding on July 28-29. They will be able to help businesses with disaster loans, answer questions and assist businesses in completing the SBA application.

The Center is located at Alan B. Mollohan Innovation Center, 1000 Technology Drive, Fairmont, WV 26554. The Center will be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Additional information on the disaster loan program may be obtained by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

8/21 - The U.S. Housing and Urban Development will provide disaster assistance to the State of West Virginia and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes due to severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.

HUD is:

Assisting the State of West Virginia and local governments in re-allocating existing federal resources toward disaster relief – HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs give the State and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars in annual formula funding to address critical needs, including housing and services for disaster victims. HUD is currently contacting State and local officials to explore streamlining the Department's CDBG and HOME programs in order to expedite the repair and replacement of damaged housing;
Granting immediate foreclosure relief – HUD granted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages;
Making mortgage insurance available – HUD's Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims who have lost their homes and are facing the daunting task of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs;
Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation – HUD's Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home; and
Offering Section 108 loan guarantee assistance – HUD will offer state and local governments federally guaranteed loans for housing rehabilitation, economic development and repair of public infrastructure.
Information on housing providers and HUD programs – The Department will share information with FEMA and the State on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties. This includes Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Family owners. The Department will also connect FEMA and the State to subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.
Read about these and other HUD programs designed to assist disaster victims.

8/18 - President Trump declared a major disaster for the state of West Virginia as a result of extreme flooding thorughout the state on July 28-29, 2017.

Impacted individuals in Harrison, Marion, Marshall, and Wetzel Counties can register with FEMA the following ways:

Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
Constituents may call the registration phone number at 1-800-621-3362; those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

MORE INFORMATION

If are in need immediate assistance, please contact one of my offices:

Charleston: 304-342-5855 (Toll free - 855-275-5737)

Martinsburg: 304-264-4626

Fairmont: 304-368-0567

Washington, D.C.: 202-224-3954

IMPORTANT LINKS AND CONTACT INFO

Find Open Shelters

County Emergency Contact Info

United Way of Central West Virginia

Volunteer West Virginia

The American Legion - National Emergency Fund