By Greg Jordan, Bluefield Daily Telegraph
PRINCETON, W.Va. – Plans for opening a disaster recovery center in Mercer County started moving forward after President Joe Biden signed a declaration that will bring in FEMA assistance to help individuals and businesses recover from Hurricane Helene.
FEMA has announced that federal disaster assistance is available to Mercer County to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Helene from Sept. 25-28, 2024.
Keith Gunnoe, director of the Mercer County Office of Emergency Management, said Tuesday that the president signed the disaster declaration, DR-4851, late Monday evening.
The declaration makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Mercer County, according to a FEMA press release. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.