Gov. Joe Manchin is urging residents in the federally declared disaster areas of Mingo and Wyoming counties to explore all their options when it comes to applying for financial assistance.
“Our first concern is for the health and safety of each of the victims of May’s flood event,” Manchin said. “If you are living in a home that was damaged, you may be risking your own safety and the safety of your family. Let FEMA work with you to see if you are eligible for temporary housing so we can try to put you and your loved ones into a safe, secure and clean temporary housing unit.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will hold an initial meeting to provide answers to the public’s questions about temporary housing. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at the Larry Joe Harless Community Center in Gilbert. For those who can’t attend this meeting or want more information prior to the meeting, a toll-free housing hotline is available at 1-877-444-0422. The hours for the hotline are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. until noon on Saturday.
“Temporary housing can be an important step to getting your life back together after a disaster, and it is just that: temporary. Accepting assistance from FEMA does not mean you will forfeit your property; it does mean that you and your family will have a safe, temporary foundation from which to build your new life.”