WEST VIRGINIA – After learning of FEMA officials assessing damage in Raleigh County on Monday, we reached out to learn more about the organization’s processes in reviewing Governor Patrick Morrisey’s request.
Over the weekend and Monday FEMA officials surveyed Logan, Wayne and Raleigh Counties to assess damages in person as there was a lack of documentation sent in to the agency.
“We wanted to check some of the areas where there had been reports and see if there was any more additional damage that had gone unreported,” said Philip Maramba, Public Affairs Specialist for FEMA.
Marimba says the organization did not need boots on the ground assessments for the hardest hit counties because the online assessments there were extensive.
“The other counties like Mingo, McDowell.. they’re reporting was fairly robust so we didn’t have any need to visit those counties,” said Maramba.
Raleigh County was the final place FEMA visited for in person assessments ahead of compiling a complete damage package.
“It’s a timeline you have to follow, you know gather the materials, review it, and then put a package together that gets sent to The White House,” said Maramba.
At this time FEMA officials are still reviewing what has been sent in as well as their on the ground reports and continue to receive virtual damage assessment surveys. We do not know at this time when the findings by the agency will be sent to the President Donald Trump.
“There’s a lot of moving parts so I can’t say too much on how that timeline goes,” said Maramba.
With federal disaster aid approved for Kentucky flooding victims now, we asked Maramba if the Bluegrass State is seeing a faster response due to KY Gov. Beshear requesting an “Expedited Major Disaster Declaration” as opposed to WV Gov. Morrisey requesting a “Major Disaster Declaration”.
“Well I think just by the nature of its name, right? But on how the fast track on that goes.. I can get back to you on that,” said Maramba.
We also asked if the DOGE climate and layoffs have effected the way FEMA is tackling this disaster.
“Our focus here is entirely on what has happened here to the citizens of West Virginia. Everything else is happening on an administrative level. Our focus is on West Virginia,” said Maramba.
If approved, the federal funding would open up to West Virginians in affected areas for things like home repairs, emergency housing and reimbursements for certain losses of property.
West Virginia public officials have urged for the Major Disaster Declaration to be approved for the 14 counties listed in the request.
“We’re going to keep pressing this” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) in a precious interview “Hopefully FEMA will rise to the occasion here and help us out, they have in the past.”
West Virginia residents are continuing to be urged to fill out this damage survey to bolster the application to FEMA.
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