This weekend Southern West Virginia took a pounding leaving the area devastated by flooding.
If you don’t have an active emergency but would like to report damages, connect with West Virginia Emergency Management’s damage disaster survey. Information from the survey is used to work with state and federal governments to secure assistance where appropriate.
“Folks have immediate needs, such as mucking out flood debris, things like that, we can share that information with other stakeholders, other volunteer groups like West Virginia Bow and Catholic Charities, and Team Rubicon, just to name a few,” said Public Assistance Officer Dr. Jason Means. “It starts with filling out that survey — it’s not a request for direct financial aid, but it helps start that process just so we know where folks are at and what type of damages they’ve experienced.”
According to Means, they pay close attention to what people post on social media.
“Directs a lot of our efforts to where to go to look most for damages. All disasters begin and end locally,” said the Public Assistance Officer. “So we augment once again, we ask that if folks have immediate needs as far as if they need rescuing, if they need to get out of their house because their bridge has been washed out — focus on contacting 911, their county emergency management office.”
The damage disaster survey information shows the totality of the event. West Virginia experiences several severe weather events every year. But not everyone grows to the magnitude of requesting a federal disaster declaration.
“You’re a business homeowner, renter, government entity, private, nonprofit, house of worship, there’s a different set of questions for every entity that could potentially fill out the survey,” the PAO said. ” Once we gather that information we validate it. There are places on the survey where folks can use their smartphone to take pictures of damage in and around their property.”
Even though we’re in the thick of recovering from this overwhelming weather event Means says to first take care of yourself, your family, and your friends. Then think: a picture speaks a thousand words.
“So I always recommend folks to take pictures around their homes inside/outside of all sides,” said the PAO. “If they’ve had a bridge wash out, Colbert — things like that, please document, even if you’re not as diligent as keeping receipts. Take as many photos as you can because that helps. Both local, state, and federal resources know the magnitude of the damage.”
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact state emergency management.
“I believe between the hours of eight and four,” Means said. “You can also reach out to 2-1-1. They will be happy to take your information over the phone and fill out the survey on your behalf.”
