8/27/2025
August 27, 2025
Disasters can be devastating—and costly. But the good news is that getting prepared doesn't have to break the bank. By taking a few simple steps today, you can save yourself from potential losses and gain peace of mind when the next emergency strikes.
Here are a few low- or no-cost ways to get started:
Taking action today costs little—or nothing—but the payoff could be priceless. Start preparing now: ready.gov/low-and-no-cost.
August 23, 2025
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – FEMA staff is in West Virginia, at community locations selected by local and state officials. If you live in Marion or Ohio counties and you were impacted by the June 14-15 storms, staff can answer questions, direct you to state and nonprofit resources, and assist you with your FEMA application.
You can visit any of the locations below. Note: disaster survivor assistance pop-up sites move throughout impacted communities. Please check the hours of operation carefully, to note which dates they will be in your area.
State-led Disaster Recovery Centers and Disaster Survivor Assistance locations from Aug. 23-29 are:
August 22, 2025
By law, FEMA cannot pay for losses covered by your insurance. That's why disaster survivors should file insurance claims for damage to their primary homes, personal property and vehicles before applying for FEMA assistance.
FEMA Assistance can help cover uninsured losses. FEMA Assistance is grant money that does not need to be paid back. Assistance can help cover home repairs, rental assistance, personal property losses and other expenses related to storm damage.
The fastest way to apply to FEMA is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Another option is to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to receive in-person assistance. To find one close to you, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.
You can also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
When you apply for FEMA assistance, you will be asked to provide:
To view an accessible video, review What You Need to Know Before Applying for FEMA Assistance.
In addition to FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low-interest disaster loans for individuals and businesses. The last day to apply for an SBA physical disaster loan is Sept. 22., the same as the FEMA deadline. To apply for a loan from the Small Business Administration or to download an application, go to SBA.gov/disaster. You may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.
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August 22, 2025
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations, homeowners and renters in West Virginia of the Sept. 22 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset losses from physical damage affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides occurring June 14-15, 2025.
The disaster declaration covers the West Virginia counties of Marion and Ohio which are eligible for both Physical Damage Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA EIDLs: Brooke, Harrison, Marshall, Monongalia, Taylor and Wetzel in West Virginia; Belmont and Jefferson counties in Ohio as well as Washington county in Pennsylvania.
Learn more here.
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August 21, 2025
Have backup copies of your records, important documents, and contacts. This includes:
Go online to the website for the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles where you can:
Get a duplicate driver's license or state identification card. Note: if your license requires changes, you need to visit a regional office.
Make an appointment.
With questions, email dmvcustomerservice@wv.gov, or call 1-800-642-9066 (West Virginia residents only). Out-of-state customers may dial 304-558-3900.
Visit or contact your county courthouse, Clerk's Office, or Register of Deeds. Fees and protocols vary by county.
Contact your bank or lender.
To replace your Social Security card, visit the Social Security Administration's website, fill out an application and bring it to your local Social Security office with valid identification, or call 1-800-772-1213.
To replace your card, call Medicare at 800-633-4227 (TTY 877-486-2048), visit your local Social Security office, request a new card through your online account with Social Security, or visit Medicare.gov.
To request a new card, make sure that your current address is reported to your Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) worker before requesting a new card. You can (a) call the EBT Helpline at 1-866-545-6502 and report your card stolen or missing or contact the DHHR Customer Service Center at 1-877-716-1212.
If you bought food with SNAP and it was destroyed or went bad due to the disaster, you can get up to one month of food replaced. For more information, see: Replacing SNAP (Food Stamps) and your EBT Card in a Natural Disaster from Legal Aid of WV.
If your valid U.S. passport was lost due to a disaster, you may be eligible for a free replacement. The Department of State has detailed information on how to start your passport replacement process.
You can get your tax records and transcripts through your IRS online account. You can request copies of your previous tax returns online or by mail. You can also request a transcript be mailed to you by calling the IRS automated phone transcript service at 1-800-908-9946.
Contact the Bureau of Engraving and Printing online or by phone at 1-877-874-4114.
You can request service records for yourself or for your next of kin (spouse, parent, child, or sibling) from the National Archives. You can request duplicate service records, as well as medical and health records.
For more information on how to replace lost documents, visit: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/recover/replacing-vital-documents.
FEMA can help people in Ohio and Marion counties whose homes were damaged by the storms on June 14-15, 2025. If you or someone in your home has a disability, you may get extra help from FEMA to make your home safer and more accessible.
FEMA may pay up to the full cost of an exterior ramp, grab bars or a paved path of travel from your vehicle to your home. The accessibility item has to make the home safe, functional, and meet the accessibility need. Additionally, the item cannot be covered by insurance or provided by another source. If you have losses that insurance will not cover, apply for FEMA assistance.
My home was damaged, and I have accessibility items. How can I get help?
My home was damaged but didn't have accessibility items. How can I get help?
My home wasn't damaged, but the disaster caused a disability. How can I get help?
How can I apply for FEMA Assistance?
You can also get help applying for disaster assistance at a Disaster Recovery Center or Pop-Up Location as well as by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS) or other service, give FEMA your number for the service.
FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished impartially, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they have a complaint of discrimination. FEMA's Civil Rights Office can be contacted at FEMA-OCR-ECRD@fema.dhs.gov or toll-free at 833-285-7448.
August 19, 2025
Rebuild with flood resistant materials to protect your property from future flooding and make clean up easier. Flood resistant materials can be in contact with water for up to 72 hours without significant damage.
Check with your community's building official or floodplain manager to ensure you are following the local building codes.
Move valuables and important items, such as documents, family photos and heirlooms, to the highest level of your home.
Move utilities, such as HVAC and hot water systems to higher levels of the home to prevent future damages from flooding.
Concrete, concrete tile, pre-cast concrete,
Latex or bituminous, ceramic, clay, terrazzo, vinyl, and rubber sheets and tiles
Pressure-treated or decay-resistant lumber
Cold-formed steel
Stainless or galvanized steel
Brick, metal, porcelain, slate, glass block, stone, ceramic/clay tile
Cement board, cold-formed steel
Reinforced concrete, concrete block, closed cell foam insulation
Polyester epoxy paint
PT and decay-resistant lumber, pressure treated and marine grade plywood
Download:January 2025: Flood Damage-Resistant Materials Requirements for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas in Accordance with the National Flood Insurance Program NFIP Technical Bulletin 2 / January 2025
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is encouraging businesses, private nonprofits (PNPs) and residents in West Virginia, who sustained damages due to the severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides occurring June 14-15, 2025, to apply to the federal disaster loan program.
Disaster survivors do not need to wait for insurance settlement to apply for an SBA disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
The declaration covers primary counties of Marion and Ohio which are eligible for both Physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA EIDLs: Brooke, Harrison, Marshall, Monongalia, Taylor and Wetzel in West Virginia as well as Belmont and Jefferson counties in Ohio as well as Washington county in Pennsylvania.
Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Download the press release.
After a disaster, rumors can spread. Always ask for clarification from official sources.
^ Click the link above for common myths along with the real facts.
August 12, 2025
You will receive a letter from FEMA after you apply for assistance. It's important that you read this letter carefully and understand any steps you need to take.
It is important to read the letter carefully. The letter may include next steps you need to take so that FEMA can continue processing your application. It may also include the amount of assistance FEMA can provide and information on how you can use your disaster assistance funds. The letter will also give you information about what to do if you disagree with FEMA’s decision.
If you have questions about your letter, you can meet with FEMA staff in your community who can help you. You can also call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
August 11, 2025
There is more than one way to apply for disaster assistance and to share your documents with FEMA.
If you would prefer, you can:
FEMA P.O. Box 10055 Hyattsville, D 20782-8055
August 5, 2025
If you have insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA can't pay for losses your insurance will cover. Residents are encouraged to bring photo identification, proof of address, insurance information and a list of disaster-related damages if available.
August 4, 2025
If you applied to FEMA for assistance, a FEMA inspector will contact you to set up a home inspection to review damages from the June 14 - 15, 2025 flooding and determine whether a home is safe, sanitary and livable. Here is what to expect from the home inspection process.
After you apply for disaster assistance, FEMA may verify your disaster-caused damage through an inspection.
The call to schedule an inspection will probably come from an out-of-state phone number. An inspector will attempt to contact you three times over three different days. If inspectors cannot reach you after three attempts, your case will be closed until you contact FEMA again.
A FEMA inspector will schedule a time to visit your home. FEMA inspectors will not show up to your home without an appointment.
Have the following documents and information ready for the inspection:
During a FEMA inspection
The inspection process usually takes 30 to 40 minutes. If you were able to take photos or videos of interior or exterior damage to your home, show them to the inspector.
If you had damage to a private well, share that information with the inspector at the time of inspection.
The inspector will:
The inspector will always have an official FEMA badge and will never ask for your Social Security number.
If you are unable to meet with the FEMA inspector for an in-person inspection, you can have a friend or relative meet with the inspector on your behalf. But first, you must provide FEMA with a signed request document for another person to be at your home for the inspection. This document allows another person—who is at least 18 years old—to meet with the inspector and talk about your case with FEMA.
Within 10 days following an inspector's visit, you will receive a letter or electronic correspondence explaining FEMA's decision. Please read your letter carefully. Your letter may have information about next steps you need to take.
Please note: not all losses require an inspection. You should also monitor your mail or your FEMA Online Account at DisasterAssistance.gov and respond to any requests from FEMA.
If you have any questions before, during or after your inspection, please call FEMA's helpline at 800-621-3362.
For more information on West Virginia's disaster recovery, visit emd.wv.gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4884 and www.facebook.com/FEMA.
###Governor Morrisey Announces Opening of Disaster Recovery Centers in Marion and Ohio counties for residents affected by severe flooding on June 14 - 15, 2025.
Marion County Disaster Recovery Center
City of Fairmont Public Safety Building
500 Quincy Street
Fairmont, West Virginia
Schedule: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Ohio County Disaster Recovery Center
Triadelphia Community Center
4453 National Road
Triadelphia, West Virginia
Closed Sunday