CHARLESTON —
West Virginia’s congressional delegation is backing Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s call for the federal government to reconsider its denial of individual assistance to residents from a June 29 windstorm.
All five members of the delegation on Friday wrote a joint letter to President Barack Obama appealing the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They also asked FEMA administrator W. Craig Fugate to meet with Tomblin and the delegation.
The derecho and subsequent storms left three people dead and more than 680,000 customers without electricity across the state.
“We saw firsthand the devastation that the storms and extended power outages caused in our communities, our economy, and to our people,” said the letter, signed by Sens. Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller and Reps. Nick Rahall, Shelley Moore Capito and David McKinley.
“Many of the residents who were affected by the storm — and who are now being denied Individual Assistance — are elderly, or disabled and live on a fixed income. Even during the best of times, many of these West Virginians struggle to maintain basic necessities.”
Also Friday, Tomblin asked teams of FEMA and state Homeland Security officials to begin reassessing damage to homes and property to give FEMA more information.
“I strongly encourage all West Virginians, with storm-related damage to their homes and property, to report the damages to their local emergency management offices,” Tomblin said. “Assessment teams will then travel throughout our communities and review all damage reported.”
Tomblin said food losses and the costs of private generators don’t need to be reported because the federal government doesn’t allow for reimbursements of these costs.
Obama last month issued a disaster declaration to cover emergency work, repair and replacement of public facilities in 45 counties.
West Virginia
Lawmakers appeal to Obama for storm aid
All five members of congressional delegation write letter to president
- West Virginia
-
-
Big decision looms for W.Va. House
West Virginia’s House of Delegates faces a momentous decision after Speaker Rick Thompson departs for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Cabinet: Choosing a new leader will help set the stage for 2014, when Republicans aim to wipe out the Democrats’ ebbing majority.
-
Coin commemorates W.Va.’s 150th birthday
West Virginia is adding a commemorative coin to the celebratory mix for its 150th birthday, the commission overseeing the sesquicentennial activities announced Saturday.
-
Record trout caught in Berkeley County
The Division of Natural Resources says a record rainbow trout was caught in Berkeley County.
DNR director Frank Jezioro says the trout was caught by Tony Corbin of Gerrardstown on May 2 from a private pond. -
West Virginia House speaker to step down, take Cabinet position
House Speaker Richard Thompson will resign from the West Virginia Legislature next month to join Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Cabinet as secretary of Veterans Assistance, the governor announced Thursday.
-
Transcript: Teenagers planned friend’s death
Transcripts of a secret plea hearing show a teenager involved in the 2012 stabbing death of a Star City girl planned the slaying with an accomplice. But their motive remains unclear.
-
Teacher in ‘bad kid fort’ incident has been rehired
A Wood County teacher who put a box labeled “bad kid fort” around a special-needs student will return to the classroom in the fall.
-
Consol will restart Blacksville mine Monday
Consol Energy says it’s got federal approval to restart its sprawling Blacksville No. 2 coal mine with the morning shift on Monday.
-
W.Va. House speaker taking Cabinet post
House Speaker Richard Thompson will step down from the West Virginia Legislature to join Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Cabinet as secretary of Veterans Assistance, government sources told The Associated Press on Thursday.
-
New license plate honors W.Va.’s 150th birthday
Drivers can now show their state pride with a new license plate marking West Virginia’s 150th birthday.
-
WVU faces fresh lawsuit over degree scandal in ’07
Two former business school deans caught up in a master’s degree scandal six years ago are suing West Virginia University again, arguing the school has ignored its obligation to repair their tarnished reputations.
- More West Virginia Headlines
-
Big decision looms for W.Va. House
