Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin received a
split-decision from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in connection with
the Jan. 9 chemical spill and water emergency that impacted approximately
300,000 residents in parts of nine counties.
FEMA on Thursday turned down
Tomblin’s request for a major disaster declaration but approved reimbursement
for some of what the state and counties spent on emergency response.
“Based on our review of all of the
information available, the request does not meet the legal definition of a
‘major disaster,’” wrote FEMA administrator Craig Fugate.
FEMA did approve the governor’s
earlier appeal for public assistance under an earlier emergency declaration.
A major disaster declaration would
have made the state eligible for other programs like disaster unemployment and
disaster food stamps.
FEMA officials said the chemical
spill and water emergency were unique and not covered under the definition of a
“major disaster.”
The counties covered under the public assistance reimbursement
are Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam and Roane.
