August 12, 2013

Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce Federal Assistance For Derecho Response and Relief in WV

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with Congressman Nick Rahall, today announced $1,272,908 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management to help the state recover from the June 2012 Derecho. The funding will help offset the cost of activating the State’s Emergency Operations Center during the Derecho in June 2012.

“West Virginians have always helped one another in times of need -- neighbors helping neighbors is simply a way of life across our state,” Manchin said. “However, after severe storms swept through the region and hit almost every county in West Virginia, it is encouraging that additional funding will be provided to help assist county officials and state agencies rebuild our communities and lend a helping hand.”

“When the derecho hit, we saw West Virginians come together – as they always do – to rebuild so they could get their lives back to normal as quickly as possible. And our first responders and emergency management professionals, who are second to none, didn’t rest until our communities were made whole again,” said Rockefeller. “Still, the storm cleanup was very costly and tapped into our state’s strained resources. I’m thankful FEMA recognized this and they’ve stepped in to provide West Virginia with this important financial relief.”

“Were it not for the effectiveness of the men and women manning our Emergency Operations Center throughout our recovery from the Derecho, more lives certainly would have been endangered,” said Rahall, who is the top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over FEMA disaster assistance. “The derecho’s devastation may have extended beyond West Virginia, but there is little doubt our state and its families, businesses and communities bore the brunt of its force. The size and scope of the Derecho clearly called for a national emergency response.”

The West Virginia Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management activated the Emergency Operations Center during the Derecho to provide 24-hour support to local emergency operations in several impacted counties and state agencies that lost power and water. They also made several necessities available for residents including drinking water, food, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, infant formula, diapers, oxygen, and generators. FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

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