December 31, 2012

Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Say FEMA Should Grant Individual Assistance for West Virginians

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, along with Congressman Nick Rahall, today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reconsider its decision to deny individual assistance to West Virginia property owners affected by a winter storm worsened by Hurricane Sandy in October. 

Rockefeller, Manchin and Rahall supported Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s Monday appeal to FEMA, following its decision to deny individual assistance to Fayette, Nicholas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker Uphsur, Webster and Wyoming counties.  

“It’s important to understand just how tough this storm was on individual families,” Rockefeller said. “While we are thankful for the federal assistance that is already being used to repair the state’s infrastructure, the fact remains that many individual homes were damaged and lives adversely impacted. I respectfully urge FEMA to reverse its decision and get assistance into the hands of West Virginians as quickly as possible.”

"West Virginians have worked hard to recover from Superstorm Sandy, and the federal government should reconsider this decision to deny individual assistance in this disaster," Senator Manchin said. "The fact is, many homeowners who I met with were overwhelmed by the devastation they faced, and this is the time they need their government most, to help them get back on their feet and rebuild."

"West Virginians need and deserve Federal disaster assistance for uninsured losses. I intend to keep working with State and Federal officials to convey the needs of our State and pushing hard to ensure West Virginia families and businesses get every Federal dollar they are entitled to under the law," said Rahall, top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over FEMA.

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