Welch, WV (WOAY) – Residents of McDowell County and surrounding areas received long-awaited relief overnight as President Trump officially declared a major disaster, unlocking individual FEMA assistance for four counties in southern West Virginia. The declaration covers McDowell, Wyoming, Mingo, and Mercer counties, offering critical financial aid to flood victims struggling to rebuild.
“We received the notification last night that the president had officially done the individual assistance declaration for McDowell, Wyoming and Mingo, and Mercer County. So that was a sigh of relief somewhat for not only us, but for the people here in southern West Virginia.” Michael Brooks, McDowell County Commission president, said.
Governor Patrick Morrisey toured the Welch Armory and surrounding flood-affected areas for the second time this week to get a firsthand look at the damage and assess ongoing recovery efforts.
“We still have a lot of National Guard members here, doing what’s necessary,” Morrisey said. “I was just in Bradshaw, where crews are working on road repairs and water restoration. These projects take time, but we’re responding to every request that comes in.”
For McDowell County Commission President Michael Brooks, Morrisey’s visit signals continued support from Charleston and Washington, D.C.
“A lot of times, after a week or so, these kinds of disasters become a redundant conversation, but this is a way for leadership to say, ‘We haven’t forgotten you.’ That means a lot.” Brooks said.
The announcement comes after days of on-the-ground coordination between state and federal officials. Morrisey said securing the declaration was a top priority.
“I think that they moved with quite speed and I know that they care… President Trump came through with the declaration of a major disaster,” Morrisey said. “We’ve been working with him very closely over the past week. He wants to be helpful. He loves West Virginia.”
Morrisey said the process of securing FEMA assistance is complex and varies by state, but emphasized that West Virginians acted swiftly to provide aid.
“Kentucky had a different process because they had a higher number of deaths and couldn’t handle the situation alone,” he explained. “West Virginia jumped into action right away to be helpful. We had people on the ground immediately, working with local responders and volunteer groups.”
With counties across southern West Virginia feeling the effects of the storms, Morrisey noted that this is not the last of the federal assistance for the mountain state, but rather the first step.
“There’s going to be more announcements coming. But you don’t want to wait for everything to be complete. If you get a few [FEMA declarations] going, that makes a big difference.” Morrisey said.
For flood victims in McDowell County, the FEMA declaration means direct financial support to repair homes, replace belongings, and assist with temporary housing. Brooks stressed the importance of this funding for residents who lack flood insurance.
“Most people had no type of flood insurance due to the fact that they just can’t afford it. I think that this assistance gives them a little hope.” Brooks said.
Morrisey urged residents to take advantage of FEMA’s individual assistance programs, describing how they cover more than just structural repairs.
“People should go online and learn about these programs. It might be that they have a chance to get a dehumidifier, to get some of the help they need. A lot of these homes were ruined and people are already coming back in. But we’ve got to make sure that the homes get cleaned out and bleached.” Morrisey said.
Residents affected by the flooding can apply for FEMA assistance through designated relief centers being set up across McDowell County.
“FEMA is required to have boots on the ground within 24 hours of the declaration,” Brooks said. “We expect FEMA sites to be operational soon, where people can sit down with personnel to go over their needs and start on the road to recovery.”
Morrisey echoed the importance of applying as soon as possible.
“We want people to know about this declaration. Some don’t even know yet because it happened late last night. But FEMA is here, the state is here, and local emergency departments are here. Everyone is on top of it.”
While FEMA assistance is a significant step forward, the county still faces massive infrastructure challenges. Brooks emphasized the need for materials to rebuild damaged bridges, a critical component of getting supplies and aid to remote areas.
“We’ve been in contact with companies that have access to steel and other materials. Now we are coordinating with our bridge engineers to determine exactly what we need.”
Beyond government assistance, community donations and volunteers continue to pour into McDowell County.
“People from all over the U.S. have reached out. From bringing in supplies to offering manual labor, the support has been overwhelming. We’re grateful.” Brooks said.
And while government aid and community efforts will help Welch and its neighbors recover, Brooks asked for one more thing.
“Above all, pray. Pray for southern West Virginia. We desperately need it.”
Newswatch will continue to provide updates as FEMA rolls out assistance across McDowell County.
For more information, visit FEMA’s official page on the matter.
https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20250227/fema-assistance-now-available-west-virginia
