WBOY: West Virginia leaders seek disaster declaration for flooding

West Virginia’s Congressional delegation and governor are reaching out to President Donald Trump to seek help for those in need after deadly flash flooding in the Mountain State.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced Friday afternoon that he had made a formal request for a major disaster declaration and an emergency declaration for Ohio and Marion counties in the state. According to the governor, if the major disaster declaration is awarded, FEMA’s individual assistance program can provide homeowners and renters with financial aid, and an emergency declaration for public assistance would allow for supplemental financial assistance for local governments and state agencies.

After traveling to both Ohio and Marion counties and assessing the damage firsthand, I have asked President Donald Trump for a Major Disaster Declaration and an Emergency Declaration,” said Morrisey. “These declarations will help unlock federal resources to support our fellow West Virginians hardest hit by the major flooding events earlier this week.”

Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) and Representatives Carol Miller (R-W.Va.) and Riley Moore (R-W.Va.) all signed a letter addressed to the president and FEMA Region III Acting Regional Administrator Lilian Hutchinson, asking the president to proclaim that major disaster declaration. While Hutchinson is listed as an additional addressee of the letter, only President Trump has the authority to make a major disaster declaration.