
Mercer County disaster recovery center remaining open until Friday
The recovery center will remain open through Friday, Feb. 14 to allow applicants more time to speak face-to-face with staff about their applications.
The Mercer County Disaster Recovery Center is located at the Lifeline Princeton Church of God, 250 Oakvale Road near Princeton. It will be open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Disaster Recovery Centers such as the one in Princeton are accessible to all, including survivors with mobility issues, impaired vision, and those who are who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Another way for applicants to discuss their FEMA assistance is by phone at 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone line operates from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.
If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, applicants should give FEMA their number for that service.
Staff from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will also be available at the recovery center in Princeton for homeowners, renters and business owners to answer questions about their physical disaster loans, and for business owners to inquire about their Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs).
Applicants can also call the SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay service.
For more information on West Virginia's disaster recovery, visit emd.wv.gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4851 and www.facebook.com/FEMA.
Contact Greg Jordan at
gjordan@bdtonline.com
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Journals
10 hours ago
- Business Journals
Harmony Bank Committed to Midlothian – Investing in Local Growth, Businesses and Families
Harmony Bank is thrilled to share that we're focusing our energy, investment, and imagination on Midlothian, Texas—one of our newest growth markets and a community we've admired for a long time. When we look at where Texans are building their futures, Midlothian stands out: families putting down roots, entrepreneurs turning ideas into storefronts, and civic leaders shaping a dynamic, welcoming hometown. For a relationship bank like ours, that combination is irresistible. We're not simply expanding a footprint; we're choosing to be present where momentum meets heart, and Midlothian has both in abundance. We have an established loan & deposit office at 110 Roundabout Dr Suite B, which is led by Senior Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer Kendra Gouge. With her deep roots in the area and wealth of experience in Commercial & Industrial Lending (C&I), SBA and Commercial Real Estate projects, we are primed to help Midlothian grow. What excites us most is the spirit of partnership we feel every time we talk with people here. Midlothian's story is one of steady, thoughtful growth—guided by neighbors who show up for one another, small businesses that reinvest locally, and schools and nonprofits that elevate the entire community. Harmony Bank's core belief is that banking should be a catalyst for good: a steady hand for households, a nimble resource for business owners, and a committed partner for community organizations. That's exactly the role we're eager to play in Midlothian. For local businesses, our focus is on practical advice and fast answers. Entrepreneurs don't have time to wait weeks for decisions, and they deserve a banker who understands how cash flow, inventory cycles, and hiring plans interact in the real world. Whether you're opening a second location, investing in equipment, navigating seasonal swings, or planning for multi-year expansion, we're bringing relationship lenders who will pick up the phone, meet you at your shop, and tailor solutions that make sense for your margins and your timeline. From SBA lending and owner-occupied commercial real estate to lines of credit and treasury services, our toolkit is built for business momentum—and our service model is built for clarity and speed. Community partnership is more than a tagline for us, it's a commitment that shows up in how we spend our time and where we put our dollars. As we focus on Midlothian, we're ready to roll up our sleeves with local nonprofits, schools, chambers, and civic groups that make this city special. A healthy local economy is about more than loans and deposits; it's about trust, shared goals, and a long horizon. We want to be the bank that shows up on Saturday morning, not just at quarter-end. Of course, excitement doesn't mean much without access. We're leaning into a 'high-touch meets high-tech' model so customers can bank their way, whether that's face-to-face relationships with a dedicated banker or seamless digital tools on the go. Expect user-friendly online and mobile banking, remote deposit capture, and robust treasury management supported by real people who know your name. For businesses, that also means ACH origination, positive pay, merchant services, and the kind of cash management support that frees up time to run the company rather than reconcile spreadsheets. We'll measure our success not only by balances and loan volumes, but by how many doors we help open: new storefronts on busy corners, expanded payrolls that create local jobs, and milestones for families who can plan with confidence. The culture fit between Midlothian and Harmony Bank is another reason we're so energized. We share a bias for action and a belief that decisions belong as close as possible to the people they affect. Our teams are empowered to make common-sense calls quickly, to customize solutions instead of forcing a template, and to respond to opportunities in days, not months. That local authority is backed by experienced risk management and a conservative balance sheet, so you get the best of both worlds: agility when you need it, and stability you can count on. If there's a single word that captures our outlook, it's 'partnership.' We're honored by the trust that banking relationships require and energized by the chance to earn that trust day after day. To the entrepreneurs taking risks, the families planning for the future, and the leaders guiding growth—Harmony Bank is here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. We can't wait to celebrate your milestones and stand steady when challenges arise. That's what neighbors do. Midlothian, thank you for welcoming us. We're excited to show you what a true relationship bank can be: responsive, practical, and rooted in your success. Whether you're exploring financing for a project, opening an account for a new business, or simply looking for a bank that picks up the phone and calls you by name, Harmony Bank is ready. Together, let's keep building a community where opportunity is accessible, businesses thrive, and families flourish.


New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
As Natural Disasters Become More Costly, Homeowners Foot the Bill
As natural disasters grow stronger and more frequent, data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency shows that the average property damage from fires and severe storms is trending upward in many parts of the country, potentially costing homeowners more to recover. When the president declares an emergency, FEMA inspectors may assess the total amount of damage to individual homes, then give the homeowners a limited amount of aid to supplement insurance coverage and out-of-pocket spending. Data from 20 years of such assessments suggests that damage from fires, hurricanes and severe storms is increasing in the West and the South. From 2006 through 2015, three fire-related emergency disasters led to property damage inspections in the Western states — all in California. Adjusted for inflation, the average amount of property damage assessed during that period was $124,000. In the decade since, 16 fire disasters in the West led to inspections, with damages averaging $143,000 per eligible claim, a 15 percent increase. In the South, severe storms have been causing more expensive damage to homes. The average assessment between 2006 and 2015 was nearly $8,500, adjusted for inflation. Since then, the average assessment has been $9,200. The past six years have had some of the highest averages of the past two decades, data shows. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe as the planet heats up, although not all disasters are linked to climate change. Human activities and pollution are driving factors, experts warn. Homeowners in areas with frequent natural disasters also have to shell out more for insurance protection. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that from 2020 to 2023 an increase in an area's disaster risk correlated with a $500 increase in insurance premiums. 'By 2053, we estimate that climate-exposed homeowners will be paying $700 higher annual premiums due to increasing wildfire and hurricane risk,' the researchers concluded. While higher rates are unwelcome, they're preferable to no coverage at all. Unfortunately, in vulnerable areas insurers are often not renewing policies, which are needed not just to rebuild, but also to obtain a mortgage in the first place.


UPI
3 days ago
- UPI
Ex-Blueacorn exec admits to COVID-era small business loan scheme
Aug. 12 (UPI) -- An ex-financial executive is likely to spend years behind bars over wire fraud charges in an alleged pandemic-era financial scheme to defraud the federal government's small business loan program. The U.S. Department of Justice said Monday that Nathan Reis, now of Rio Grande in Puerto Rico by way of Arizona, pleaded guilty in Texas to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role as company chief at Scottsdale-based lender Blueacorn. The plea was tied to attempts to fraudulently obtain relief money via the U.S. Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program during the COVID-19 pandemic. "This defendant had the opportunity to help small businesses overcome tremendous financial hardships during a time of national crisis but instead exploited the system to line his own pockets with taxpayer money," Nancy E. Larson, the acting U.S. attorney for the northern district in Texas, said in a statement. Reis, 47, created the venture in 2020 with his wife, Stephanie Hockridge, a former KNXV television anchor in Phoenix, purportedly to help small businesses and owners to obtain the federal government's PPP loans. "Blueacorn connects technology and financial expertise to help small businesses, independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and gig workers with their financial needs," the company's website reads. In June, Hockridge was found guilty of conspiracy but acquitted on multiple counts of wire fraud. His guilty plea was filed after an initial plea of not guilty. The SBA's Paycheck Protection Program was part of the 2020 CARES Act singed by then-U.S. President Donald Trump during the virus outbreak in his first term. It was targeted to infuse money into small businesses to bankroll payroll and other business-related expenses. According to court documents, Reis conspired with business associates to "submit false and fraudulent PPP loan applications." It included "fabricating documents that falsified income and payroll figures in order to receive loan funds for which they were not eligible." Federal officials contend that Blueacorn was the vehicle through which Reis and co-conspirators submitted an undisclosed number of fraudulent PPP loan applications that, according to the Justice Department, "they knew contained materially false information to make more money." "Reis and others fabricated documents, including tax documents and bank statements," the deparment added. "As part of the conspiracy, Reis and his co-conspirators charged borrower's fees based on a percentage of the funds received." The SBA's well-intended PPP opened the door to waves of other similar acts of fraud. "During a national emergency, this defendant exploited a taxpayer-funded program that individuals and small businesses desperately needed to survive," acting Assistant U.S. Attorney General Matthew Galeotti in DOJ's criminal division, said in a release. The fraud section at Justice has seized nearly $80 million and prosecuted more than 200 defendants in over 130 separate PPP-related criminal cases. In January, seven people were charged by a federal grand jury in a multi-state conspiracy that defrauded more than a half-billion dollars in over 8,000 bogus pandemic-era tax returns. "Reis and others exploited a program meant to keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic," stated Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division. Any individual with info on COVID-related fraud attempts may contact the department. Reis is schedule for sentencing November 21. He faces a max penalty of 20 years in prison contingent upon sentencing guidelines by a federal judge, and $250,000 in fines.