Latest news with #FEMADisasterAssistance
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
FEMA Disaster Assistance deadline approaching for Kentuckians impacted by February flooding
Video note: Despite this article's time stamp, the above video is the latest forecast from The Weather Authority. KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is quickly approaching for Kentuckians affected by February's flooding and storms. People in Woodford County and several Eastern Kentucky counties who live in declared disaster areas have just three weeks left to apply for FEMA assistance. The deadline to apply is May 25. Those counties include Breathitt, Clay, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Simpson, and Woodford counties. Acting police chief, other officials resign amid deadly London shooting investigation FEMA Public Information Officer Nicole Wilson said more than 6,500 people have already been approved for assistance. She said more than $40 million has been allocated to those survivors. She encouraged anyone in those counties to apply, even if the damage was minimal. 'If you had any damage, we want to help. And so, we encourage individuals who were affected by that storm in any way, who are uninsured or underinsured, to go ahead and get an application in with us to see how we may be able to provide some financial assistance to help on that road to recovery,' Wilson told FOX 56. You can apply for assistance online at the FEMA Disaster Assistance website. You can call FEMA for help applying for disaster assistance at (800) 621-3362 or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find one close to you, use this FEMA DRC locator or text DRC along with your zip code to 43362. FEMA Disaster Assistance deadline approaching for Kentuckians impacted by February flooding Lexington animal rights advocates say scammers are posing as employees: What to look out for Fayette County Public Schools spokeswoman to resign Although the deadline to apply is May 25, that does not mean FEMA will stop reaching out to you, according to Wilson. 'We will continue to process applications beyond that period. We will continue to stay in touch with you beyond that period. And we just want to make sure that if we are working with you in this recovery process, that you stay in touch with us,' Wilson said. 'If your address changes, give us a call; let us know about it. If your phone number changes, give us a call, let us know about it so we know how to reach you if we have a question or need additional information.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How one local sawmill is already feeling the effects of new tariffs
FLAT TOP, WV (WVNS) — With President Trump's tariffs on lumber being exported and imported to and from the country now in effect, many may be wondering how our sawmills here in the states are faring. How local cattle farmers feel about the new tariffs On April 5, President Trump imposed a minimum 10-percent tariff on all countries that the United State has trade agreements with. According to The White House's official website, another individualized tax will be imposed on the countries the United States has the highest trade deficits with. That will take effect on April 9th. Even before another tax is added, our local sawmills are already feeling the effects of the tariffs. John Beeson, Procurement Forester for Meador Wood Products in Flat Top, said it's going to be rough for local sawmills for a while. 'Well, there's already orders being cancelled for lumber that's being shipped overseas, of course. But it also effects stuff that's here domestically just because it's just a ripple effect. I mean, and it's gonna be painful for a little while until we work through it,' said Beeson. Beeson said his company has lumber on ships right now. This lumber was previously heading to other countries but is now just floating on the open ocean until it's decided who will pay the tariff – the sawmill or whoever ordered the lumber. He said the major products his company exports are West Virginia hardwoods, such as red and white oak. Beeson said the tariffs will result in exports being worth less than previous years. For example, if a company overseas orders lumber that would normally be priced for a thousand dollars, then the overseas company will only want to pay eight hundred dollars for the lumber so that the remaining money can be used for the tariff. Beeson said, in his opinion, this could be a good thing in the long run. 'We shouldn't be exporting or importing as much as we are. Exporting's okay, but we shouldn't be exporting logs and lumber. We should be using it here and getting more products out of it, then shipping it. We're not the end users, and that's the biggest thing. And that's what he's, in theory that's what we're trying to do, or Trump's trying to do.' said Beeson. More than $20 million in FEMA Disaster Assistance approved in West Virginia Beeson said we're shipping logs and lumber to other countries who then turn them into value-added products and turn around and export those products back to the United States for a larger profit. He hopes the new tariffs will encourage the country to use the raw goods they have, such as logs and lumber, by turning them into specialty products and then shipping them to other countries to create a larger profit margin here at home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
WVDOT makes progress on road repairs, but financial challenges lie ahead
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) continues making progress in addressing roads and bridges within the state, but funding challenges may affect the effort, according to reports. According to a press release, the most recent TRIP report, a national transportation research nonprofit, stated that 19 percent of West Virginia's estimated 7,200 bridges are structurally deficient or in poor condition, meaning they have at least one issue that needs fixed. The TRIP report is a good tool for measuring the condition of highway systems. We appreciate the data that they collect and the way it serves the public. Poor and structurally deficient does not mean unsafe. We would not ask our citizens to cross any bridge we would not willingly cross ourselves. Stephen T. Rumbaugh, P.E. | Secretary of Transportation More than $20 million in FEMA Disaster Assistance approved in West Virginia The percentage of structurally deficient bridges is down from 20 percent in 2024. Rumbaugh stated that the department has been able to invest millions of dollars into bridge repair and replacement throughout the last five years, acknowledged within the report. WVDOT was able to increase the annual amount of investment in road, highway, and bridge repairs and improvements by 67 percent from 2018 to 2023, from $678 million to $1.132 billion. Since 2018, WVDOT has repaved nearly 8,400 miles of roadway and made repairs to more than 3,400 bridges. Data from the recent TRIP report Our goal is to get the number of poor bridges down below 10 percent. Stephen T. Rumbaugh, P.E. | Secretary of Transportation The report also stated that road fatalities in the state have increased. An estimated 1,340 people were killed in crashes in the Mountain State. Though road conditions were a factor in some crashes, the national rise in traffic deaths is widely attributed to distracted drivers, those impaired by drugs or alchohol, as well as drivers using their mobile phones. Any death on a West Virginia highway is one too many. Our goal continues to be zero fatalities on our state roads. As far as cell phone use goes, put it down. Look around. Stephen T. Limbaugh | Secretary of Transportation Fire fighters takes a break from spring fire season to bring the community together The report also highlighted funding challenges that the state faces as they try to maintain its systems of bridges and highways. Per the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), material and labor costs for construction projects increased by 45 percent from 2022 to mid-2024. The combination of additional state and federal transportation funding has allowed West Virginia to move forward with numerous projects to improve the condition, use, and efficiency of the surface transportation network. While this has allowed the state to undertake dozens of needed transportation projects, West Virginia still faces a funding shortfall to make additional repairs and improvements to its road and bridges. Data from the recent TRIP report For more information, visit the West Virginia Department of Transportation's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Deadline approaches for FEMA Assistance in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — The deadline is approaching for people dealing with damage caused by storms in February 2025 to apply for FEMA Assistance. According to a press release, April 28, 2025 is the deadline for people to apply for FEMA Assistance for damage caused by storms in February. More than $20 million in FEMA Disaster Assistance approved in West Virginia The assistance can help with home repairs, personal property losses, and other disaster-related needs that insurance does not cover, in Mercer, McDowell, Raleigh, Wyoming, Logan, Mingo, and Wayne counties. According to the press release, there are multiple ways that renters who dealt with losses can apply for assistance such as: Visiting the Disaster Assistance website Downloading the FEMA App. Calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Phone lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. Those who use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service, are advised to provide FEMA with the number for that service. Speaking with someone in person. Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams will be on the ground in affected communities, walking door-to-door to share information, and helping residents apply for FEMA assistance. At Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Mercer, McDowell, Wyoming, Logan, Mingo, and Wayne counties. People can get help applying for federal assistance, update applications, and learn about other resources available when they visit DRCs. DRCs are accessible to all people, including survivors with impaired vision, mobility issues, and people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Information about Disaster Recovery Centers includes: Mercer County Lifeline Princeton Church of God at 250 Oakvale Road in Princeton Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Closed Sundays Closed on April 26 McDowell County Bradshaw Town Hall at 10002 Marshall Highway in Bradshaw Monday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed Sundays Board of Education Office at 900 Mount View High School Road in Welch Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays Wyoming County Wyoming County Courthouse at 24 Main Avenue in Pineville Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed Sundays Mingo County Williamson Campus at 1601 Armory Drive in Williamson Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed Sundays Logan County Southern WV Community & Technical College at 100 College Drive in Logan Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed Sundays Wayne County Tolsia High School at 1 Rebel Drive in Fort Gay Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed Saturdays and Sundays The press release stated that a person's eligibility for Social Security, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, or other federal benefit programs are not affected if FEMA funds are accepted. Renters in West Virginia could be eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance The application deadline for homeowners, renters and business owners to apply for a U.S. Small Business Administration physical disaster loan is April 28, 2025. People can apply here, by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or emailing disastercustomerservice@ for additional information about SBA disaster assistance. The press release stated that those who with a speech disability, or who are deaf or hard of hearing can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay service. Additional information about recovery efforts in West Virginia can be found on FEMA's website, the West Virginia Emergency Management's website, or FEMA's social media page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
