July 01--West Virginia emergency officials estimate that more than 5,000 homes were either destroyed or damaged by last week's floods.
In a Friday afternoon update, the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management estimated 1,500 homes were destroyed and another 4,000 were damaged. They also estimated that 125 businesses have been destroyed.
State officials are now waiting on results of the assessment being done by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has approved more than $3 million in funding for individuals and households affected by the flooding.
FEMA had approved $3,175,915 as of close of business Wednesday, according to a Thursday evening update from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and more than 4,000 homeowners have registered for assistance.
FEMA has deployed more than 400 staff members to the region and has opened several disaster recovery centers. The centers are located at the Kanawha Schools warehouse in Crede, 300 Pennsylvania Ave., by Elk Elementary Center; 201 Kanawha Ave. in Rainelle; and at Richwood City Hall at 6 White Ave. The White Suphur Springs location closed at 7 p.m. Thursday.
More information for flood victims and volunteers is available at www.wvflood.com.
Twelve counties -- Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster -- remain under a state of emergency.
On Friday, the West Virginia Department of Transportation announced that flood-related road damage estimates so far top $36 million.
Clay County has highest road damage cost estimate.
Throughout the holiday weekend, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office plans to conduct additional patrols in the flood-affected areas along the Elk River in northern Kanawha County. The deputies will assist with traffic, routing supplies, and deterring and arresting looters and vandals, said Sgt. Brian Humphreys.
In Clendenin, police still are enforcing a dusk-to-dawn curfew. The town remains restricted to local traffic only. Officers will escort sightseers, who they say are hindering recovery efforts, from the area.
People who are going to flood-ravaged areas to volunteer are encouraged to carpool and travel in groups.
Kanawha County officials said Friday that, manpower currently appears to be a more critical request than donated goods; however, if people have donated goods to offer, they can be delivered to the WV VOAD warehouse at 2700 E. DuPont Ave. in Belle between 8 a.m. 6 p.m.
Volunteers can go through the Red Cross at www.redcross.org or Volunteer West Virginia at www.volunteerwv.org or 304-859-3748.
Flood victims who need help cleaning their homes or moving debris from the home to the curb can call the Cleanup Assistance Hotline at 1-800-451-1954. Curbside pickup will continue today for those who can bring debris to the curb. Officials say debris should be separated -- appliances and large bulky objects should be separate from garbage or bags of trash. Paint and hazardous material will also need to be separated into a different area for collection.
Debris collection locations at Elkview Middle School and the Clendenin Park and Ride will continue to be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the weekend.
The state Insurance Commissioner's Office has created a website to help citizens navigate the flood claims process. The page, http://ift.tt/29btRnK, provides insurance claims resources, FEMA contacts, insurance company phone numbers, and consumer guidance on the claims process.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has ordered U.S. and state flags lowered through July 3 to mourn lives lost in the flooding.
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(c)2016 The Charleston Gazette (Charleston, W.Va.)
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