MERCER COUNTY, W.Va. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency wrapped up their damage assessment last week in Mercer County. Now it’s a waiting game to see if the county qualifies for a federal disaster assistance.
Bluefield City Manager, Cecil Marson says FEMA workers surveyed lots of damage in the city and county while visiting people who reported storm damage from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. Marson says crews visited hundreds of people in the county.
While not everyone who reported damage was visited, Marson says that doesn‘t mean their damage isn’t being included in a potential disaster declaration. Marson says it could be between two to five weeks before the county knows if it qualifies for federal assistance or not.
“If the declaration is declared and the governor makes that declaration then what will happen is FEMA will set up a disaster relief center somewhere here in the county,” said Marson. “It will be open all day for folks to go in and basically sit down with one on one counseling and work through the different programs available to get some assistance and some funding.”
The storm damage surveys are still active and Marson is encouraging people in Mercer County to fill the assessment out if you were affected by the storm. Marson says city residents still in need of storm damage removal can contact city hall for possible assistance.
Copyright 2024 WVVA. All rights reserved.