A Rush of Help...A Flood of Relief

By Governor Bob Wise

This month's floods have brought devastation and destruction to West Virginia. The inclement weather has taken a toll on our state and its citizens, but not on our spirit.

Many homes, schools and roads were washed away by Mother Nature's fury. Hard working families must labor even harder to restore what they worked so hard to build. Until now, our resources have been limited, but help is coming for those who need it.

Immediately following the flooding, I asked for a Major Disaster Declaration from FEMA; we received it in record time. The Declaration awards Individual Assistance to 24 counties in West Virginia.

Citizens in Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Wayne, Webster, Wirt and Wyoming counties should apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA. For hearing or speech impaired, the number to call is 1-800-462-7585.

The President also approved 11 counties for Public Assistance: Braxton, Gilmer, Jackson, Logan, Mingo, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Webster, Wirt and Wyoming.

The agreement I signed calls for FEMA to offer 75 percent of the costs for repairing businesses and residences that were damaged during the flooding. The state will provide the remaining 25 percent. I was happy to sign this agreement. Now is the time for us to repair and rebuild our homes, businesses and public facilities and move forward.

I also have suspended the West Virginia consumer sales tax and service tax and the West Virginia use tax on purchases or uses of specified building construction materials and supplies for eligible flood victims. The appropriate FEMA claim number and documentation are required for the exemption.

In a state where nature's beauty is so plentiful, it is perhaps unavoidable that sometimes we suffer her fury. Though these disasters have tragic results, we are a strong people, and we will unite in defense of one another and in our consolation of those who lost loved ones. I am proud of the way West Virginians deal with these events, and I am confident we will continue to rise to any and every challenge that presents itself.

...June 11, 2004