March 26, 2015

WV Delegation Calls on Preisdent to Grant Major Disaster Declaration

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, along with Representatives David McKinley, Alex Mooney and Evan Jenkins, sent a letter to President Obama to express their full support of Governor Tomblin’s request to declare a major disaster for the state of West Virginia as a result of Winter Storm Thor. The storm moved through West Virginia on Wednesday, March 4 and Thursday, March 5, and caused severe weather conditions in all 55 counties, including heavy rain and snow, devastating flooding, mudslides, landslides and power outages.

If granted, public assistance will be made available for infrastructure and clean-up efforts in 30 counties, including Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, McDowell, Mingo, Monongalia, Putnam, Raleigh, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood and Wyoming. Funding for hazard mitigation efforts would be made available to the entire state.

Please read the full letter below, or click here.

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20502

Dear Mr. President:

As members of West Virginia’s Congressional Delegation, we are united in our support of the thousands of West Virginians who continue to suffer as a result of severe weather that affected our State between March 3, 2015 through March 14, 2015, resulting in flooding, landslides, mudslides, and severe winter storm conditions.

Many counties throughout West Virginia experienced significant damage from this winter storm, not only to transportation and utility infrastructure, but also to valuable recreational areas.  This extreme weather caused major damage to many bridges, highways and other critical infrastructure in communities that are home to some of West Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens – the elderly, the disabled, and those who live on a fixed income.

To access federal disaster aid, West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin made a request for a declaration of major disaster for the State of West Virginia, submitted March 24, 2015, 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 respectfully request that you review this request expeditiously for Public Assistance for Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, McDowell, Mingo, Monongalia, Putnam, Raleigh, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood, and Wyoming counties; and Hazard Mitigation for the entire state expeditiously, and give it every appropriate consideration.  We also ask that FEMA begin immediate discussions with the appropriate State officials in regard to Governor Tomblin’s urgent appeal.

We remain so very proud of the work of our local citizens, first-responders, and brave National Guard troops who are already working to help these communities recover and rebuild, and we urge you to do everything in your power to make sure that they have the federal support they need and deserve throughout this difficult process.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

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