Sunday, November 4, 2012

Officials Assess Storm Damage


{Charleston, West Virginia}...U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano joined Governor Earl Ray Tomblin Saturday in Charleston to assess storm damage as cleanup crews continue to deal with the aftermath of superstorm Sandy. A news conference was held at the FEMA staging area of the West Virginia Army National Guard. National Guard leaders recapped the storm's wrath for Napolitano with a slideshow presentation of the hardest-hit areas, while officials from several different counties also spoke with her about the difficulties they're facing. U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said the state has already spent $5 million to $6 million, and it's probably going to spend another $5 to $10 million more to get all the roads and bridges opened and repair  all of its infrastructure. Napolitano says FEMA has already sent about a million meals and a million liters of water to West Virginia and its personnel are working with the National Guard to visit individual homes.