May 16, 2013

Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Federal Assistance For Hurricane Sandy Response and Relief in WV

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller today announced $1,045,590 in federal funding to help alleviate the cost of West Virginia’s emergency response and relief during Hurricane Sandy.

“Hurricane Sandy called on our response teams requiring a lot of financial support upfront, and continues to require resources as our communities work to recover,” said Rockefeller. “West Virginia’s National Guard, first responders, and Emergency Operations Center are top-notch, and they did all they could to keep our communities safe and functioning during the storm. This funding helps alleviate the costs associated with that response, reimbursing the state for all they did to protect West Virginians.”

“This is tremendous news for the communities in West Virginia that are still working to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy,” said Manchin. “When I toured the areas that were severely damaged, I was so inspired by the willingness of West Virginians to come together. However, the toll this storm took on our state was incredible, and there are still families and businesses who are struggling. I am pleased that FEMA granted our urgent request for additional assistance and I know the people of West Virginia will put this aid to good use rebuilding their communities and their lives.”

Rockefeller and Manchin fought to include West Virginia in the final Hurricane Sandy disaster relief package passed in January. In November, Rockefeller and Manchin joined 11 other Senators from states impacted by Hurricane Sandy to urge President Obama to provide additional emergency aid for federal disaster assistance programs. On December 5, Rockefeller submitted an official statement for the record to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging colleagues to include federal assistance to help communities and families in West Virginia as the chamber considered disaster relief legislation.

The funding has been awarded to the Office of the Adjutant General for the State of West Virginia to offset the cost of implementing the State’s Emergency Operations Plan, and activating the State’s Emergency Operations Center and the West Virginia National Guard in order to address electrical outages and damaged utility lines that interrupted essential food, fuel, and communications services during Hurricane Sandy. This funding reimburses the state for the federal government’s share of the cost of Hurricane Sandy response and recovery including: emergency medical support teams, search and rescue teams, and emergency patrol and security. The funding also helps pay for the clearing of debris from roads. The funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

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