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Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for West Virginia
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 19, 2008

Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance for West Virginia

ÿÿWhite House News


The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of West
Virginia and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery
efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding,
mudslides, and landslides during the period of June 3-7, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected
individuals in the counties of Barbour, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison,
Jackson, Jefferson, Marion, Taylor, and Tyler.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs,
low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to
help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the
disaster.

Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments
and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for
emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the
severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, mudslides, and landslides in the
counties of Barbour, Clay, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Marion, and Taylor.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
mitigation measures statewide.

R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Ed Smith as the Federal
Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FEMA said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested
by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the
designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by
registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling
1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech
impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6
p.m. (local time)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.

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