FEMA COMING TO CALHOUN THIS WEEK - $2.5 Million Approved For 24 Counties

(04/21/2003)
More than $2.5 million dollars has been approved to help more than one thousand West Virginians in 24 counties recover from the February winter storm, according to FEMA.

About 90 Calhoun residents have registered their damages from the February ice and snow storm, including flood damage. FEMA will have a Disaster Recovery Center open in Grantsville for three days this week, April 22nd to 24th at the Senior Center.

The office will be open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Applications may be returned.

Low-interest loans are available to residents and businesses affected by the storm.

May 13th is the deadline for applications. FEMA ID numbers can be obtained by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.

FEMA officials say the February ice storm that resulted in record snow falls, flooding and ice has generated 1,089 approved claims through last week.

Another 327 claims are still pending review.

Approved claimants have received $2,300,000 for housing assistance and $430,000 for other needs.

Also, FEMA and the US Department of Agriculture are encouraging farmers in 33 West Virginia counties to turn in damage claims from the ice storm.

More than 300,000 acres of forests were damaged, while farms were hit with miles of downed fences, collapsed barns and at least 17 collapsed poultry houses.