By Greg Jordan, Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – A FEMA Disaster Relief Center opened its doors early Monday morning and started helping Mercer County residents suffering losses from Hurricane Helene.
A federal disaster declaration was issued last week for Mercer County, making residents eligible to apply for FEMA assistance to help with recovery from wind damage and flooding that occurred when the remnants of Hurricane Helene hit southern West Virginia from Sept. 25-28.
FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center opened at the Maple View Church of Christ in Bluefield. The church, which has a large parking lot, is located at 194 Robins Rest Road, Bluefield next door to the Roses Department Store side of the Mercer Mall. People seeking assistance from FEMA or the Small Business Administration should go to the church’s rear door.
Residents FEMA refers to as survivors were soon sitting down with FEMA representatives or waiting their turn.
“Normally on the first day, the first two days, everybody hears about us and they come and they want to register for the first time or get an update on their application,” said Tiana Suber, FEMA media relations specialist. “We encourage people to come to our disaster recovery center which is put together by FEMA and the state, and talk to somebody one-on-one. Get some help with your application process, know what resources are available to you, know what programs that we can help you with.”
