Letter to Joe Biden, President of The United States - West Virginia Delegation Calls on Administration to Approve Disaster Declaration for Heavy Rain Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides

Letter

Dear Mr. President:

As members of West Virginia's Congressional Delegation, we write to support Governor Jim
Justice's request for a federal disaster declaration for the State of West Virginia after heavy rain
storms washed through our state causing widespread damage, including flooding, landslides and
mudslides in 7 counties throughout central and southwestern areas of West Virginia, beginning
February 27th, 2021 through March 4th, 2021.

Heavy rainfall impacted the entire state of West Virginia, but was most dramatically felt in the
central and southwestern counties of our state. Persistent rains fell February 27th through March
4th, resulting in major flooding events in Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, and
Wayne Counties. Areas surrounding rivers, creeks and small streams were unable to absorb the
excess precipitation causing flooding and catastrophic damage to vital infrastructure. Fortunately,
no injuries or loss of life were reported. Local officials and first responders, including the West
Virginia National Guard, worked diligently to ensure that debris clean-up efforts were initiated
immediately to clear blocked roadways and damaged infrastructure and to prevent additional
damages. Our state resources have reached capacity with response efforts to this natural disaster
and also in response efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal resources are key to our
continued response and recovery efforts.

To access federal disaster aid, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has made a request for a major
disaster declaration for the State of West Virginia, submitted April 30th, 2021, under the provisions
of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C.
§§ 5121-5208 (Stafford Act). We urge you to approve this request for Public Assistance for Boone,
Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, and Wayne Counties and the request for Individual Assistance
for Cabell, Kanawha, Mingo and Wayne Counties in addition to Hazard Mitigation assistance
across the state.

We remain proud of our local citizens, first responders and our brave National Guard members,
who have worked diligently to assist in recovery efforts, and we urge you to do everything in your
power to make sure that our communities have the federal support they need to rebuild and recover.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,