FEMA offers advice at local stores on repairing, rebuilding

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and five local hardware and home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer.

FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand this week to answer questions and offer home improvement tips along with proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. A variety of free workshops for storm-impacted homeowners on such topics as repairing or installing flooring and what to do with rain-soaked drywall will be presented daily. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourselfers and general contractors.

FEMA advisors will be at:  

Ace Hardware

326 Main Street

Rainelle, WV 25962

Through Aug. 6

8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

Byrnside Hardware

107 4^th Street,

Danville, WV 25053

July 28 to Aug. 3 – (Workshop closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday

7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

The Home Depot

1100 Liberty Park Drive,
Hurricane, WV 25526

July 28 to Aug. 3 (Workshop closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Lowes Home Improvement

1155 Oakvale Road

Princeton, WV  24740

July 28 to Aug. 3 (Workshop closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sears Home Improvement

RR 1 Box 17-A

Ronceverte, WV 24970

July 28 to Aug. 3 (Workshop closed Sunday)

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on protecting your home from flood damage, will be available at all locations. More information about strengthening property can be found at http://www.fema.gov/what-mitigation.

West Virginians who have questions about their flood insurance policies and coverage should contact the National Flood Insurance Program call center at 800-621-3362 (Option 2) between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Specialists can help with service claims, provide general information regarding policies and offer technical assistance to aid in recovery.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA, facebook.com/FEMA, fema.gov/blog and the flood information pages at http://wvflood.com