MERCER COUNTY, W.Va. – For the second time in less than a year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has opened a Disaster Recovery Center in Mercer County.
The center will be open for the foreseeable future at the Lifeline Princeton Church of God. February flood victims are encouraged to visit the center for face to face assistance in applying for aid which can range from mold mitigation to replacing essential items.
“Any temporary repairs to their residence and if you have to leave your residence for a period of time we can help with some temporary displacement assistance to help people rent a place and stay while the repairs are being done to their home,” said Mark O’Hanlon, Federal Coordinating Officer for FEMA.
You don’t have to visit the center to apply for FEMA assistance. It can be done both online or by phone: 1-800-621-3362.
If you do want face to face help at the center you should bring proof of residency, insurance documents and receipts of expenses used to recover from flood damages. FEMA representatives say the quicker you register for aid the faster you can get help.
“Once the inspection takes place the inspector will provide the report to us in the same day to evaluate the damages that are being validated. Then the grant payment to the person’s bank account should be within three days,” said O’Hanlon.
He says the slowest part may be scheduling an inspection which may take up to 10 days due to the amount of people affected by flooding.
The Disaster Recovery Center will be open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. The center will also be open on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.
While people wait for assistance they’re still being encouraged to set ruined belongings outside to be collected by the West Virginia National Guard.
“They’ll be starting in the Matoaka area tomorrow (Wednesday) removing these piles of debris that we had asked folks last week to set out in accessible locations in front of their homes or businesses,” said Keith Gunnoe, director for Mercer County’s Office of Emergency Management.
Gunnoe says the national guard teams will also be collecting debris from other areas and are aiming to also visit the Montcalm area this week.
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