PRINCETON, W.Va. – Following the damage caused by Hurricane Helene at the end of September, FEMA and SBA have set up a Disaster Recovery Center in Mercer County to help the community apply for aid. FEMA is seeking to assist people affected by the storm.
Those who faced damages from Helene may be eligible for help in home repairs, basic essentials, and more. A Federal Coordinating Officer for FEMA said that they’re here for the community and eager to help.
“So, in under a month we have been able to approve more than a million dollars, and we have had hundreds of people come into our disaster recovery center. Again, this one stop shop where people can come and get help,” said Georgeta Dragoiu, Federal Coordinating Officer for FEMA. “And so we really want you to come and see us, we will hand-hold you through the application process, and we’re here to make sure that we can give the citizens of Mercer County all the help that they are eligible for.”
The SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience are in Mercer County to help homeowners, business owners, and renters affected by the storm apply for disaster loans that are low interest, as well as long term.
SBA may be able to help those in Mercer, McDowell, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wyoming, Bland, Giles, and Tazewell counties. The Office’s Public Affairs Specialist, Jim Accurso, said they want to motivate people to apply.
“Well, we know we’re here helping folks… it’s something that we all do… we travel the country to different disasters so…” explained Accurso. “…We hear their stories, you know, the concerns that they have, and again, we encourage them to come on in, share that information with us so we can help with the application process.”
The application deadline for FEMA and SBA is Feb. 7, and there are several ways to apply, such as online, by phone, or in person. Beginning on Monday, Jan. 6, FEMA will be moving from Princeton to Bluefield, West Virginia at MapleView Church of Christ.
“I just want to thank our Mercer County officials and our state counterparts for being so proactive in getting the word out so that the citizens of Mercer County know they we’re here and we’re ready to help them,” Added Dragoiu.
To learn more about SBA’s disaster assistance, you can view their website. To look into applying for assistance with FEMA online, click here.
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