Trump approves disaster declaration for Ohio, Marion counties in West Virginia

by Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch
July 23, 2025

The federal government has approved West Virginia’s request for a disaster declaration related to flash flooding that killed nine people and displaced others in the northern part of the state last month.

President Donald Trump announced the disaster declaration Tuesday evening on the social media platform Truth Social, saying that he had granted the state $11.7 million for severe flooding and tornadoes that happened in June. 

“I just finished speaking with their wonderful Governor, Patrick Morrisey, and look forward to seeing the State make a full recovery. I love West Virginia!” he wrote. 

Morrisey announced Tuesday that individual assistance has been approved for Marion and Ohio counties, which occurred after heavy rains that started June 14. The flooding killed nine people in Ohio County. It also destroyed an apartment building in Fairmont, displacing its residents. 

“President Trump and his administration has shown once again that they will step up and support West Virginia,” Morrisey said in the news release. “I want to thank everyone involved in securing Individual Assistance for Ohio and Marion counties and providing us another tool to help these communities make a full recovery.”

Morrisey formally requested the disaster declaration on June 20. One month after the floods, state Democrats criticized the Trump administration, demanding answers about why it had not yet approved the disaster declaration. 

In a joint statement, West Virginia’s congressional delegation — Reps. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., and Carol Miller, R-W.Va, and Sens. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., — applauded the declaration and said they were grateful for it to the Trump administration. They had previously written a letter to Trump and to the Federal Emergency Management Agency in support of the state getting such a declaration.

“The flooding that occurred saw devastating loss of life and property, and we are glad that much-needed help is on the way to help these communities recover and rebuild,” they wrote in the statement. “We commend the bravery of the first responders who sprang into action and the local leaders, churches, and charities who have been on the ground helping victims begin to rebuild their lives.”

The declaration means that homeowners and residents in those counties who suffered loss and damage in the flash floods are eligible for individual assistance, including emergency repairs to homes, private bridges, private roads, temporary housing, transportation, moving and storage, funeral expenses, uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, as well as expenses for medical, dental, legal and child care services.

Residents should first file claims with their insurance providers and then file for assistance from FEMA in one of the following ways: 

• Visit http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov  
• Call FEMA’s helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
• Download the FEMA mobile app from your phone’s app store.

When applying, residents should have the following information ready:

• Social security number
• Address of damaged residence
• Description of damage and losses
• Current mailing address and phone number
• Insurance information if available
• Total household annual income

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West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.