Flood recovery continues as Logan, Boone counties await possible federal assistance
The director of the Logan County Office of Emergency Management says recovery from June's flooding is moving through the lengthy process required before federal assistance can be approved.
Flood recovery continues as Logan, Boone counties await possible federal assistance
Robert Fields | WVOW News
LOGAN Speaking during the Logan County Commission's July 20 meeting, Logan County Office of Emergency Management Director Roger Bryant explained that emergency response begins at the local level before requests for assistance move to the state and eventually the federal government.
Bryant said preparations begin as soon as the National Weather Service forecasts severe weather, with his office coordinating alongside the county's 12 volunteer fire departments to stage boats and other emergency equipment.
Once the immediate response to protect life and property ends, Bryant said recovery becomes largely a local effort. He thanked the Logan County Commission for supplying cleanup materials during the early days following the flooding.
Bryant reported receiving 88 damage reports from residents involving everything from downed trees to flooded homes. He urged anyone with unreported damage to register both with the Logan County Office of Emergency Management and through the state's Survey123 damage reporting system, which is used to determine whether federal assistance thresholds have been met.
Bryant told commissioners he is "99% sure" Logan County will qualify for a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster declaration, which would make low-interest federal disaster loans available to homeowners, renters, businesses and certain nonprofit organizations. He said the loans typically carry interest rates of about two percent with repayment periods of up to 30 years, while acknowledging many disaster victims are understandably hesitant to take on additional debt.
Bryant noted that an SBA declaration can be issued independently of a presidential disaster declaration and often reaches communities sooner. He said if a disaster recovery center is opened locally, it would likely be located at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College.
Should no federal assistance become available, Bryant said remaining recovery efforts would rely on Volunteers Active in Disaster organizations, churches and other charitable groups.
Residents who have not yet reported flood damage are encouraged to contact the Logan County Office of Emergency Management at 304-792-0192.
The update was followed up a day later by a request for federal aid submitted by Governor Patrick Morrisey to the Trump administration. The request seeks FEMA Individual Assistance for residents in Boone and Logan counties, along with statewide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding. West Virginia's congressional delegation has also submitted a letter supporting the request.
Joint damage assessments completed by FEMA, the West Virginia Emergency Management Division, local emergency managers and the U.S. Small Business Administration documented 186 damaged homes across Boone and Logan counties, including 12 destroyed, 18 with major damage, 93 with minor damage and 62 classified as affected.
If approved, eligible residents could receive FEMA assistance for temporary housing, home repairs, disaster case management, crisis counseling and legal services. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program would provide funding for projects designed to reduce future flood damage.
The damage resulted from storms that struck June 22 and 23, when three to six inches of rain fell across portions of Logan, Boone, Mingo and Raleigh counties, with some locations receiving more than six inches of rain in that time. In Logan County, emergency crews responded to numerous high-water calls and water rescues as flooding impacted communities including Whitman Creek, Chauncey and the Old House Branch area near Omar. Governor Morrisey declared a state of emergency for Boone, Logan and Raleigh counties on June 24.
PHOTO | File
