May 06, 2021

West Virginia Delegation Calls On Administration To Approve Disaster Declaration For Heavy Rain Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides

Charleston, WV – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Representatives David McKinley (WV-1), Alex Mooney (WV-2) and Carol Miller (WV-3), urged President Biden to approve the Governor’s request for a federal disaster declaration for the heavy rain storms that caused widespread damage including flooding, landslides and mudslides in Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, and Wayne Counties beginning February 27th, 2021 through March 4th, 2021.

The Members said in part, “As members of West Virginia’s Congressional Delegation, we write to support Governor Jim Justice’s request for a federal disaster declaration for the State of West Virginia after heavy rain storms washed through our state causing widespread damage, including flooding, landslides and mudslides in 7 counties throughout central and southwestern areas of West Virginia, beginning February 27th, 2021 through March 4th, 2021… We remain proud of our local citizens, first responders and our brave National Guard members, who have worked diligently to assist in recovery efforts, and we urge you to do everything in your power to make sure that our communities have the federal support they need to rebuild and recover. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.”

This heavy rain storm happened just a few weeks after the severe winter weather that caused significant loss of essential services, such as power and water access, as well as, significant damage to our roadways, due to downed trees in many of the same counties.

Read the full letter below or click here.

Dear Mr. President:

As members of West Virginia’s Congressional Delegation, we write to support Governor Jim Justice’s request for a federal disaster declaration for the State of West Virginia after heavy rain storms washed through our state causing widespread damage, including flooding, landslides and mudslides in 7 counties throughout central and southwestern areas of West Virginia, beginning February 27th, 2021 through March 4th, 2021.

Heavy rainfall impacted the entire state of West Virginia, but was most dramatically felt in the central and southwestern counties of our state. Persistent rains fell February 27th through March 4 th, resulting in major flooding events in Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, and Wayne Counties. Areas surrounding rivers, creeks and small streams were unable to absorb the excess precipitation causing flooding and catastrophic damage to vital infrastructure. Fortunately, no injuries or loss of life were reported. Local officials and first responders, including the West Virginia National Guard, worked diligently to ensure that debris clean-up efforts were initiated immediately to clear blocked roadways and damaged infrastructure and to prevent additional damages. Our state resources have reached capacity with response efforts to this natural disaster and also in response efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal resources are key to our continued response and recovery efforts.

To access federal disaster aid, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has made a request for a major disaster declaration for the State of West Virginia, submitted April 30th, 2021, under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5208 (Stafford Act). We urge you to approve this request for Public Assistance for Boone, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, and Wayne Counties and the request for Individual Assistance for Cabell, Kanawha, Mingo and Wayne Counties in addition to Hazard Mitigation assistance across the state.

We remain proud of our local citizens, first responders and our brave National Guard members, who have worked diligently to assist in recovery efforts, and we urge you to do everything in your power to make sure that our communities have the federal support they need to rebuild and recover. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.