Obama Declares Major Disaster In West Virginia After Historic Flooding

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

Source: NPR

President Obama has declared a major disaster in West Virginia after flash flooding left at least 24 people dead and devastated communities.

The historic floods are the worst in a century for portions of the state, the governor has said, and destroyed or seriously damaged at least 100 homes. Water levels reached as high as rooftops in some areas. More than 30,000 people are without power, according to the state's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Obama's declaration makes funding available to three of the hardest-hit counties in the state – Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas. It is meant to assist with "temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster," according to a statement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"This federal support will provide much needed assistance to severely-impacted regions," West Virginia's governor Earl Ray Tomblin said in a statement. "As emergency response efforts continue, with members of the National Guard and local emergency responders hard at work helping our neighbors, we will continue pursuing additional assistance for all affected areas."

Read more: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/26/483587401/obama-declares-major-disaster-in-west-virginia-after-historic-flooding

[In_The_Wind]

1. Thank you, President Obama.

[dgibby]

2. This is wonderful news.

I live in Alleghany Co, Va., which is adjacent to Greenbrier Co, WV. We were hard hit, but they were devastated. WV Nat. Guard is in the area, looking for survivors/bodies.

One of the women who cuts my hair lives in White Sulphur Springs, WV, but works here. She was unable to get home due to the flooding. When she did finally get home, the house was gone, as was her husband, daughter, and grandson. They had gone to the attic to escape the rising water, the house was washed off its foundation, and they were trapped. The 17 year old grandson's body was recovered on the golf course at the Greenbrier Resort, but the husband and daughter are still missing. Our hearts are broken for this family and all the other families affected by this storm.

Thank you, President Obama.

[yourpaljoey]

3. that really brings it home

damn, what a thing

[Little Star]

4. So sad for your hairdresser. Heartbreaking.

[elleng]

5. How awful!

[uppityperson]

6. I am so sorry. k&r this thread for wider exposure of this.

[keithbvadu2]

7. How long before the right wingers claim they never asked or accepted aid because

they are so independent and self sufficient that they do not need gov't handouts?

[Xipe Totec]

9. We are the Democratic Party. It's what we do. nt