CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you were affected by the severe storms, landslides and mudslides that occurred June 22-29 and haven’t registered for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), why wait? Do it now!

Take the first step toward getting federal assistance. Don’t miss out! Once you register with FEMA, you may be eligible for a federal grant to help you with your recovery. You may also qualify for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

If you haven’t registered yet and are a homeowner or renter with disaster-related damage in the designated counties, do it now before it’s too late.

Did you not register because:

  • You simply didn’t know that FEMA offers help to homeowners and renters whose homes were damaged?

    • Once you register with FEMA you will learn about the help that may be available to you.

  • You kept putting off registering because you were too busy and didn’t remember to register until the evening, and thought everything would be closed?

    • Registering is a very important first step to getting help. The FEMA helpline is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT every day of the week.

    • Or go online anytime to DisasterAssistance.gov.

  • You are confused about the process of registering with FEMA?

    • FEMA is there to help you. Make the phone call (800-621-3362) or go online to the website (DisasterAssistance.gov). Ask questions and you will get answers.

  • You thought talking with your county officials or the American Red Cross, or calling2-1-1 would automatically make you eligible for FEMA aid?

    • The only way for you to be eligible for federal help is for you, the homeowner, renter or as the business owner, to register with FEMA.

  • You thought the damage to your property would not be eligible for federal help?

    • Let FEMA make the decision to determine if you qualify for federal assistance.

  • You thought that since you already cleaned up and made repairs you couldn’t apply for assistance?

    • You can register with FEMA even after you make repairs. It is helpful to have photographs of the damage. It also helps if you keep all repair receipts.

  • You thought others needed the federal aid more than you?

    • No one is denied aid because of someone else’s need. If you are eligible for assistance, FEMA will provide funds to help you start the recovery process.

  • You thought you’d have to repay a FEMA grant?

    • FEMA assistance is a grant, not a loan. It does not have to be repaid. It is not subject to income tax.

  • You thought that getting disaster assistance from FEMA would affect your government benefits, such as Social Security, Medicaid or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)?

    • You will not have to pay additional income taxes or see any reduction in your Social Security checks or any other federal benefits.

  • You didn’t think you were eligible for FEMA help because you are not a U.S. citizen?

    • If you are in the United States legally or are the parent of a U.S. citizen in your household, you need not worry about applying for federal disaster assistance.

None of these reasons will prevent you from getting help from FEMA. Here’s what to do to get the correct information:

  • Call the FEMA helpline (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362; (TTY users should call 800-462-7585). The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

  • Go online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

  • Visit a Disaster Recovery Center near you. To find the closest one, go to www.fema.gov/drc.

If you have questions about how you may qualify for a low-interest SBA disaster loan for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes:

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by calling the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 or visiting: www.DisasterAssistance.gov; the flood pages at www.WVflood.com; fema.gov/disaster/4273; twitter.com/femaregion3; and fema.gov/blog.

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West Virginians: There’s still time to register for help. Do it now!

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) at 3300 Pennsylvania Avenue in Charleston (Kanawha County), and 6 White Street in Richwood (Nicholas County) will close at 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.

As a survivor of the June storms and floods, you can still get the help you need with just a phone call. The deadline to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016.

Many of the services available at the DRCs are also available on the helpline. The FEMA helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT, seven days a week, until further notice. By calling 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or video relay services) or 800-462-7585 for TTY users, you can use the helpline to:

  • Register with FEMA.

  • Provide a change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information.

  • Receive information about FEMA home inspections.

  • Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

  • Ask questions about letters you receive from FEMA.

  • Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision. All applicants may appeal.

You can also register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov or find an open DRC at www.fema.gov/drc. Just be sure to do it before Sept. 7.

If you want to discuss your application, you should have your nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.  TTY users may call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

SBA low-interest disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters for their recovery needs. The deadline to apply for an SBA loan is Wednesday, Sept. 7.

You can still visit the other DRCs. Representatives from FEMA, various state agencies and the SBA are at the centers to answer your disaster assistance or low-interest disaster loan questions:

Greenbrier County               1233 Kanawha Ave., Rainelle, WV 25962

 

Greenbrier County               Mobile Disaster Recovery Center, Southeastern Labor Council,

                                               AFL-CIO, 65 West Main St., White Sulphur Springs, WV 2498

 

Kanawha County                  Office trailer in parking lot across from Dollar General Store,  

                                               120 Maywood Ave. W., Clendenin, WV 25045

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA and fema.gov/blog.

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Kanawha and Nicholas counties Disaster Recovery Centers to close; help is still available

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – If you applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and were referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), there are many good reasons to submit a loan application.

The deadline to apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan is Wednesday, Aug. 24. If you don’t apply before that date, you may not be eligible to receive the help that may be available to you, not only from SBA but also from FEMA.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations for physical damage from the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred June 22-29. The following counties are eligible to apply: Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster.

Some of the top reasons for submitting an SBA loan application include:

  • SBA can help renters and homeowners repair or replace disaster-damaged personal property. Renters, as well as homeowners, may be eligible to borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, appliances and damaged vehicles.

  • A future insurance settlement may fall short. You may find out that you are underinsured for the amount of work it takes to repair or replace your damaged home. An SBA low-interest disaster loan can cover the uninsured costs. By submitting the application, you may have loan money available when it’s needed. SBA may approve a loan for the repair or replacement of a home up to $200,000. The loan balance may be reduced by your insurance settlement. However, the opportunity for an SBA loan may be lost if you wait until after the deadline expires on Aug. 24.

  • You are not required to accept a loan even if you qualify for one.

  • If SBA determines you aren’t eligible for a home loan, they will refer you back to FEMA. This could make you eligible for more FEMA aid.

  • Interest rates on SBA loans may be more affordable than you think. Get in touch with an SBA representative to get details.

  • If you need help completing your loan application call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY 800-877-8339); send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov; or you can visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to sit down and talk with an SBA representative one-on-one. Find the nearest center to you by going online at www.fema.gov/drc.

  • You can submit your SBA disaster loan application in one of three ways:  online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/; in person at a DRC; or by mail.           

If your SBA loan application is approved, you may be eligible to borrow additional funds to cover the cost of improvements that will protect your property against future damage. Examples

include elevating utilities, water heaters and furnaces, and installing retaining walls and sump pumps. Applicants may be eligible for an SBA loan increase, for mitigation purposes, of up to  20 percent of their physical damage.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to provide working capital to eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the 12 counties listed above and the 17 adjacent counties in West Virginia, five in Virginia, and one in Ohio.

The deadline to apply for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan is March 27, 2017.

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by calling the FEMA Helpline 800-621-3362 or visiting: www.DisasterAssistance.gov; the flood pages at www.WVflood.com; fema.gov/disaster/4273; twitter.com/femaregion3; and fema.gov/blog.

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Many good reasons to apply for an SBA loan before the Aug. 24 deadline

ATLANTA, Ga – Take steps now to prepare your family for disasters by downloading the FEMA smartphone app

Much of the region has been under heat advisories from the National Weather Service over the past few weeks. While it has cooled down in recent days, summer continues for several more weeks. The FEMA app lets you receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening your family and friends.

To help you stay safe during extreme heat, take the following actions when your area is under a heat advisory:   

  • Postpone outdoor games and activities and limit exposure to the sun.
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine; limit alcoholic beverage intake.
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
  • Spend the warmest part of the day in temperature-controlled buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, or community facilities.
  • Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.

Download and use the free FEMA app, which provides valuable safety tips to help you prepare for and recover from more than 20 natural and man-made hazards. The app also provides family communication plans, a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, and maps of open shelters and disaster recovery centers. The app is available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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Be Prepared—Download FEMA Smartphone App

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – August 7 will mark one year since President Obama’s disaster declaration for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, kicking off the largest housing effort in the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s history.  To support this effort, FEMA continues to have staff deployed to the reservation and office space at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

To address the severe housing need on the reservation following the disaster, FEMA initiated a permanent housing construction program used for the first time in the continental United States.  Under the effort, more than 300 households were identified as eligible for either repairs to their damaged home, or replacement with a new manufactured home. A total of 196 new manufactured homes were turned over to tribal residents with the final closing occurring on July 11. The manufactured homes were staged at Ellsworth Air Force Base prior to their final delivery and installation on the reservation.  As of August 2, 85 additional homes have been repaired by contractors funded by FEMA. The remaining 23 homes are expected to be repaired by early September. 

In addition to the housing construction program, FEMA has provided more than $435,000 in direct financial aid to tribal members.  Of that, more than $217,000 was for home repairs and $219,000 was for personal property losses and other emergency needs as a result of the May storm.  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $943,000 in low-interest loans to 58 tribal residents and businesses.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will also be made available to the tribe, with the amount available based on total disaster response and recovery costs.  This program will allow the tribe to develop and undertake projects that will minimize the impact of future disaster events.  Projects will be based on priorities established by the tribe, can be done reservation wide, and do not have to be directly related damages caused by the May 2015 storm event.

A federal interagency disaster recovery coordination team has partnered with the (OST) Government to support long-term recovery.  Joining FEMA and the tribal government are the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture Rural Development, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Federal Highway Administration.

The recovery coordination team has task forces dedicated to two primary issues, roads and housing.  On the housing front, the goal is “One Nation – One Number”, and initiative to get a comprehensive count of both housing structures and their condition as well as the number of occupants.  An accurate total will give a true picture of the scope of need and bolster requests for funding to address it. 

A similar tack is being taken on the roads side, with “One Nation – One Map” being the result of a months-long survey of all roads within reservation boundaries. The survey is being converted into GIS data to provide the tribe with comprehensive information on all roads and their current maintenance.

More:  

Disaster Recovery Progress at Pine Ridge, One Year Later

Charleston, W.Va. — Two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will close permanently at 6 p.m., Saturday, August 6, 2016, one in Monroe County at the Alderson Senior Center, and the other in Nicholas County at the Birch River Elementary school.

But as a survivor of the June storms and floods, you can still get the help you need with just a phone call.

Many of the services available at the DRCs are also available on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) helpline. The helpline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice. By calling 800-621-3362 (voice 711 or video relay services) or   800-462-7585 for TTY users, you can use the helpline to:

  • Register with FEMA.

  • Provide a change of address, telephone and bank account numbers and insurance information.

  • Receive information about FEMA home inspections.

  • Get other questions answered about federal disaster assistance.

  • Ask questions about a letter from FEMA.

  • Learn how to appeal a FEMA decision.All applicants may appeal.

You can also register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov or find an open DRC at www.fema.gov/drc.

If you want to discuss your application, you should have your nine-digit FEMA registration number and zip code.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.  TTY users may call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The deadline to file an SBA physical disaster loan application is Aug. 24.  SBA Disaster low-interest loans are available to businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters for their recovery needs.

You can still visit the other DRCs.  Representatives from FEMA, various state agencies and the U.S. Small Business Administration are at the centers to answer your disaster assistance or low-interest loan questions:

 

Clay County

 

 

Clay County High School, 1 Panther Drive, Clay WV 25043

Greenbrier County

 

Mobile Disaster Recovery Center, Southeastern Labor Council,      AFL-CIO, 65 West Main St., White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986

 

 

Greenbrier County

 

Town Hall, 201 Kanawha Ave., Rainelle, WV 25962

Kanawha County

 

Kanawha County School Operations Center, 3300 Pennsylvania Ave.,

Charleston, WV 25302

Kanawha County

Office trailer in parking lot across from Dollar General Store, 120 Maywood Ave. W., Clendenin, WV 25045

 

*Webster County

 

City Council Rm., Webster Springs Municipal Bldg., Webster Springs, WV 26288   *Closing at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4.*

Nicholas County

City of Richwood City Hall, 6 White Ave.,  Richwood, WV 26261

 

 

Additional information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery can be found by visiting fema.gov/disaster/4273, twitter.com/femaregion3, twitter.com/FEMA and fema.gov/blog.

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Monroe, Nicholas DRCs close; Help still available

Top FEMA Officials Available for Interviews to Discuss Extreme Heat Safety Tips, Urge Residents to Download FEMA Smartphone App Designed to Help Families Before, During, and After Disasters

Washington – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging residents across the nation to take steps now to prepare their families and communities for extreme heat, by reviewing important safety information and downloading the FEMA smartphone app. 

The National Weather Service announced today that “dangerously hot and humid conditions are expected this week across a large portion of the nation.” Additionally, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center’s latest outlook notes that most of the continental United States is facing elevated chances of well-above-average summer temperatures. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, heat kills more people than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods.

To help Americans stay safe during extreme heat, FEMA urges residents to consider taking the following actions in affected areas:   

  • Postpone outdoor games and activities and limit exposure to the sun.
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine; limit alcoholic beverage intake.
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
  • Spend the warmest part of the day in temperature-controlled buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, or community facilities.
  • Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.

FEMA also urges residents to download and use the free FEMA app, which provides valuable safety tips to help families prepare for and recover from more than 20 natural and man-made hazards. The FEMA app enables users to receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations across the nation, making it easy to follow severe weather that may be threatening family and friends.  The app also provides family communication plans, customizable checklist of emergency supplies, and maps of open shelters and disaster recovery centers. The app is available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

 

What:  Interview opportunity with FEMA officials to share information on how to stay safe during extreme heat and FEMA’s updated Smartphone App

Who:  FEMA Director of External Affairs Josh Batkin

          FEMA Director of Public Affairs Rafael Lemaitre  

          FEMA Director of Individual and Community Preparedness Helen Lowman

When:  Upon request

RSVP:  To schedule a media interview contact the FEMA News Desk at 202-646-3272 or FEMA-News-Desk@fema.dhs.gov

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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FEMA Urges Americans to Be Prepared for Extreme Heat, Download FEMA Smartphone App

AUSTIN, Texas – Two important deadlines are ahead for Texans who are considering a loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration for recovery from the May-June storms and flooding.

Most survivors who registered with FEMA for disaster assistance were contacted by the SBA with information on the agency’s low-interest disaster loans, as well as instructions on how to complete the loan application.

The deadline to submit the application for physical damage is Aug. 10. The deadline for businesses to submit a loan application for economic injury is March 11, 2017.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property, offering low-interest disaster assistance loans to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.

Survivors may apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s customer service center by calling 800-659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call 800-877-8339. For more disaster assistance information or to download applications, visit sba.gov/disaster.

Completed applications should be mailed to:

U.S. Small Business Administration
Processing and Disbursement Center
14925 Kingsport Rd.
Fort Worth, TX  76155

SBA loan applications should be submitted even as disaster survivors await an insurance settlement. The loan balance is reduced by the settlement. SBA loans may also be available for losses not covered by insurance.

The SBA encourages Texans who suffered damage or loss from the May-June storms and flooding complete the SBA loan application they received. There is no obligation to take a loan if offered. If approved, and a survivor does not accept the loan, it may make one ineligible for additional federal assistance.

  • Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 from SBA to repair or replace their primary residence.

  • Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.

  • Businesses may borrow up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury. SBA offers low-interest working capital loans—called Economic Injury Disaster Loans—to small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes.

# # #

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Download fema.gov/mobile-app to locate open shelters and disaster recovery centers, receive severe weather alerts, safety tips and much more.

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SBA Disaster Loan Application Deadlines Near

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the ACE Hardware store in Rainelle 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 St, Rainelle, WV 25962, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Saturday, Aug. 6.
.
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.

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FEMA Offers Advice at ACE Hardware on Repairing, Rebuilding

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — As West Virginians repair or rebuild their homes damaged by last month’s storms, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and 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 to provide information at area Home Depots and Lowe’s Home Improvements from July 21-27. They will be available to answer questions and offer home improvement tips and proven methods to prevent and lessen damage from future disasters. Most of the information is geared for do-it-yourself work and general contractors.

Also, if you are thinking of building a storm shelter or safe room, literature is available about the best options. Safe rooms built to FEMA specifications have saved thousands of lives.

FEMA advisors will be on hand at information centers in these stores, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
July 21-27 (except Sunday, July 24):

THE  HOME  DEPOT

Cabell County
1050 Thundering Herd Dr.
Barboursville, WV 25504

Kanawha County
100 Cross Terrace Blvd.
Charleston, WV 25309

 

LOWE’S  HOME  IMPROVEMENT

Kanawha County
5750 MacCorkle Ave. SE
Charleston, WV 25304

Raleigh County
1210 N. Eisenhower Dr.
Beckley, WV 25801.

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 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/Pages/default.aspx

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FEMA Offers Repairing, Rebuilding Advice at Home Depot, Lowe’s

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