As southern West Virginia continues to recover from devastating floods earlier this year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is actively distributing disaster assistance to affected residents — but time is running out.
With only one month remaining before the application deadline, officials are urging survivors to apply for aid as soon as possible. The assistance is part of a federal disaster declaration issued after severe flooding damaged homes, businesses, and infrastructure across multiple counties.
What Kind of Help Is Available?
FEMA assistance includes grants for temporary housing, repairs to primary residences, and replacement of essential personal property. In addition, residents may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance, legal aid, and crisis counseling services.
Those who qualify can also receive support from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in the form of low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and business owners seeking to rebuild.
Who’s Eligible?
Residents in the designated disaster counties — including Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming — are encouraged to apply if they suffered property damage, displacement, or income loss due to the floods.
FEMA representatives have been on the ground, visiting neighborhoods and hosting mobile recovery centers to assist with the application process. So far, thousands of West Virginians have received aid, but officials say many more may still be eligible and have yet to apply.
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by phone at 800-621-FEMA, or in person at designated FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the region. Required documents include proof of residency, insurance information, and details about the flood-related damage.
The deadline to apply is exactly one month from today, and FEMA emphasizes that late applications may not be accepted.
A Community Still Rebuilding
For many residents, the flooding brought total devastation — destroying homes, isolating rural communities, and overwhelming local emergency services. While some rebuilding has begun, the road to full recovery is expected to take months, if not years.
Local officials are encouraging neighbors to spread the word, especially to those without reliable internet access or transportation. Churches, nonprofits, and community groups have stepped up to help people complete applications and understand their rights.
“This is one of the worst disasters we’ve seen in years,” said one county commissioner. “We need everyone who was affected to know that help is still available — but they have to act now.”
