Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., is working to secure federal relief for victims of the June 29 storm that left thousands of West Virginians without power for more than a week.
According to information from Rahall's office, the congressman is working to facilitate a potential request by the state of West Virginia for a federal disaster declaration, and he is urging President Barack Obama to use the full extent of his authorities to assist those recovering from the derecho.
"Since the storm hit, I have traveled to several counties in my congressional district and have seen first-hand the extreme difficulties being endured by our citizens in what is now the second week for many without power," Rahall said in a statement. "Homes and businesses may still be in the dark, but it's not hard to see that tight family budgets have suffered big hits."
Rahall said he has spoken with Obama and top Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to press for the full range of assistance "our residents and businesses are entitled to under a disaster declaration."
State and local governments are primarily in charge of response and recovery efforts, but FEMA can provide disaster-related assistance authorized by the Stafford Act. That assistance can include grants or loans for uninsured businesses, communities or individuals. The full range of federal disaster relief, however, is unavailable until the president issues a major disaster declaration, which must be requested by the state's governor.
The West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and FEMA tomorrow will begin joint Preliminary Damage Assessments, or PDAs, evaluating damages from the recent storm and subsequent power outage.
"There may not have been as extensive physical damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure as in other disasters West Virginians have endured, but there were still significant financial losses and costs incurred by our residents, businesses and whole communities because of the power outages, and those were widespread," Rahall said.
Rahall, who serves as the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over FEMA, is asking Obama and FEMA officials to consider the special circumstances given state-wide power outages coupled with extreme heat that has left children and the elderly especially vulnerable, as well as those on fixed or low incomes.
"I also urged the president and top FEMA officials to keep in mind that this was a unique occurrence that may not neatly fall into the scenarios envisioned by the Stafford Act," Rahall said. "For so many to lose power during such extreme heat, and to be without power for so long, especially those on fixed incomes who have little or no money to buy food, supplies or even ice, even when it could be found, that warrants special attention."
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WOWK. All Rights Reserved.
