December 27 – Bluefield – FEMA representatives continue to provide guidance to Mercer County residents recovering from damage inflicted last September when Hurricane Helene’s winds and rain hit southern West Virginia.
The Mercer County Disaster Recovery Center is currently located at Maple View Church of Christ next to the Mercer Mall. The center will be open today, Saturday and Monday, but could move to another location in Mercer County. If this happens, this new location will be advertised in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, other local media and social media.
“Right now we have almost 200 families being served here and we’re just processing that work today,” Julio Rivera, FEMA DRC coordinator, said Thursday.
The Mercer County Disaster Recovery Center has surpassed half a million dollars in distributed relief in Mercer County, Rivera said.
“So now we’re at $533,000, so that’s for today,” he said Thursday. “We’re still going.”
Initially, the center’s goal is to get county residents in need of assistance registered so they can qualify for eligible disaster benefits, said Janet Gaume-Wakefield, FEMA DRC manager.
“And the second thing that is most important is their insurance if they have insurance, that they bring their documents with them so that there are no duplicate benefits,” she said. “Then get a settlement or denial letter so we can process it; and in that process there will be an inspection, and in that inspection we will verify the damage and the losses.”
Residents seeking FEMA assistance are urged to continue visiting the center so they can speak with FEMA representatives in person and stay informed about what needs to be done so they can qualify for assistance.
“Inspectors don’t go on roofs or under houses, so we want applicants – it’s a process – to keep coming back if it’s not an inconvenience,” Gaume-Wakefield said.
FEMA offers several types of assistance, Rivera said.
“It depends on what types of losses you have,” he said. “We have home repairs. We have personal belongings. We have displacement assistance for people who are displaced. We have home replacement if the house is completely destroyed. There is transportation for the people who have lost that. It depends on the type of loss that you suffered.” Some people have lost their income, their jobs. Some people have lost their homes. Be that as it may, in each category there are different types of documents and verification paperwork, so whatever your case, it’s good to come and follow up on your case to see what part of the process you are in.”
Gaume-Wakefield said the center’s staff can be advocates for disaster survivors.
“They don’t have to figure it out,” she said. “We will get them through it as quickly as possible and hopefully, at their worst moment, help them kick-start their recovery.”
The location of the recovery center may change next week. Rivera said the church will be open today, Saturday and Monday, Dec. 30. He urged county residents to visit during those days if the church is a convenient location for them.
The center is open today from 8am to 5pm, Saturday from 8am to 3pm and Monday from 8am to 5pm.
A final day has not yet been set for the Mercer County Disaster Recovery Center.
“It’s as long as it takes, but we’ll be in Mercer County for at least the next 30 days,” Gaume-Wakefield said. “It could be different locations so we ask that you stay tuned to your newspaper, your radio, your local television and social media as it will be out as soon as we confirm on locations, but we will be in Mercer County. Why, if the people here have already been well served, tell their friends and family, their church people, because we are here as long as the number of people are served.”
The center provides access to other resources such as IRS disaster loss kits and Small Business Administration programs.
“Our goal is that survivors who enter the disaster recovery center leave better than when they came in,” Gaume-Wakefield said. “Again, by answering all their questions, they know what their next step is for their recovery.”
Gaume-Wakefield urged county residents seeking FEMA assistance to visit the Disaster Recovery Center and speak with a FEMA representative in person.
People who cannot get to a recovery center can apply for FEMA assistance and ask questions by calling 1-800-621-3362. Callers should include their address with zip code, state of their damaged home, insurance information if available, social security number, telephone number where they can be contacted and an address where they can receive mail or an email address to receive notifications.
County residents seeking assistance can also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov to access disaster assistance and resources.
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
