He says FEMA had a couple of disaster assistant centers opened within a few days of the flooding and now has eight open, unlike the aftermath of the 1985 flooding when it took six weeks for FEMA to finish the application process.
With the help of the state, they are teaming up to provide one-stop shopping relief. However, in the rural areas there are not a lot of hotels or other available rentals, making it more problematic than in the Charleston area.
Bill Watrel, FEMA Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer, said, “Our focus right now is to get the remaining people out of shelters and into some type of temporary situation—a hotel room or a rental. Going forward, we’re working with the state to look at the scope of the damage and we’re coming up with courses of action for individuals who cannot get back into their homes.”
Initial FEMAl estimates said 1,500 homes were destroyed, and while some of those homes are repairable, people still need temporary housing now, although modular or manufactured homes may be sited on private and commercial properties.
The long-term strategy is to move people back into their communities, although there may be some who do not want to return. ##
(WestVAFloodingAftermath-credit-BobAaron@wchs-postedDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews)
