Greenbrier County families worried about flood grant money

​LEWISBURG, W.Va. (AP) — The Greenbrier County (W.Va.) Commission is looking at options to help families hoping for federal money to rebuild homes lost in the 2016 flood.
The (Beckley, W.Va.) Register-Herald reported that state officials initially encouraged the homeowners to apply for some of West Virginia’s $69 million pool of flood-hazard-mitigation funds.

But county emergency services official Paula Brown said the state now has placed high-profile public-infrastructure projects first in line for funding. That means all 55 counties can apply for grants, and it makes the homeowners unlikely to receive funding.
Brown told the county commission last week that her office has received approval to acquire only six flood-damaged properties out of 41 requested. The office also received approval to help elevate three homes.

“We received 13 percent of what we asked for from the state,” Brown said. She noted that there are more than 30 homes awaiting demolition, posing a public-health hazard as they continue to deteriorate. Brown said it is essential that the damaged structures be removed, but the owners don’t have the money.

Many of those families still are paying off debts on their uninhabitable flood-damaged houses. At the same time, they are trying to pay mortgages or rent on new homes.Brown told the commission that the state’s priorities list for flood-hazard-mitigation grants still can be modified, and she urged the commissioners to intervene with state officials.
“Anything you can do at the state level will be appreciated,” she said.

The commissioners indicated a willingness to send a letter to the governor and explore additional options.