W. VA. GOV. REPORTS DISASTER DECLARATION APPROVED:

Gov. Bob Wise recently announced that a federal Major Disaster Declaration for West Virginia has been granted by the President because of recent severe flooding in the state. The declaration allows residents in 24 counties to apply for Individual Assistance grants, which are designed to help residents recover some flood-related expenses. Counties include: Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Nicholas, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Wayne, Webster, Wirt and Wyoming. Wise said he also believed FEMA would grant Public Assistance to many West Virginia communities. Public Assistance is designed to help state, county and local governments pay for damages to public property and/or for disaster response overtime for employees.