{Washington, D.C.}...President Barack Obama signed a federal disaster declaration for 45 West Virginia counties Monday, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the storms on July 29th. The derecho storm, which brought winds of more than 70 miles per hour to some parts of the state, left behind damage in many areas and, at one point, knocked out power to more than half of the state. Many residents in West Virginia were without power for more than 10 days. Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and straight-line winds. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
The counties included in the declaration are:
Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hardy,
Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood and Wyoming.
