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| Obama approves federal aid for West Virginia areas devastated by floods | Obama approves federal aid for West Virginia areas devastated by floods |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Barack Obama has approved federal aid for the West Virginia communities devastated by floods that have killed at least 24 and rendered many more homeless. | |
| On Saturday, Obama signed a federal disaster declaration that makes available to residents in three counties temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other assistance for individuals and business owners. Federal money to help state and local governments is also available on a cost-sharing basis. | On Saturday, Obama signed a federal disaster declaration that makes available to residents in three counties temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other assistance for individuals and business owners. Federal money to help state and local governments is also available on a cost-sharing basis. |
| Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s administration still believes there are people missing in Greenbrier County, where the death toll rose by one Saturday, said chief of staff Chris Stadelman. The other two counties in the declaration are Kanawha and Nicholas. | Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s administration still believes there are people missing in Greenbrier County, where the death toll rose by one Saturday, said chief of staff Chris Stadelman. The other two counties in the declaration are Kanawha and Nicholas. |
| Related: West Virginia death toll rises to 23 in state's worst floods in a century | Related: West Virginia death toll rises to 23 in state's worst floods in a century |
| The focus in the Mountain State is shifting to community recovery, Stadelman said, away from the difficult search and rescue process, where residents were helped off roofs and out of attics and shimmied down trees into rescue boats. Bodies were sometimes found. | The focus in the Mountain State is shifting to community recovery, Stadelman said, away from the difficult search and rescue process, where residents were helped off roofs and out of attics and shimmied down trees into rescue boats. Bodies were sometimes found. |
| On Saturday, Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) officials were in the state to begin assessing the damage to infrastructure, homes and other property. | On Saturday, Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) officials were in the state to begin assessing the damage to infrastructure, homes and other property. |
| Obama spoke by phone to Tomblin on Saturday while returning to Washington DC from Seattle, White House spokesman Eric Schultz said in a statement. | |
| Schultz said Obama was committed to ensuring that Tomblin has the federal resources he needs for all recovery efforts. The president has directed White House staff to coordinate closely with Tomblin’s team to make sure Fema provides all appropriate assistance. | Schultz said Obama was committed to ensuring that Tomblin has the federal resources he needs for all recovery efforts. The president has directed White House staff to coordinate closely with Tomblin’s team to make sure Fema provides all appropriate assistance. |
| More than 24,000 homes and businesses remained without power on Saturday evening. Water was still not running in the Clendenin area and residents were filling jugs at stations provided by West Virginia American Water. | More than 24,000 homes and businesses remained without power on Saturday evening. Water was still not running in the Clendenin area and residents were filling jugs at stations provided by West Virginia American Water. |
| Fifteen of the 16 deaths in Greenbrier County struck the tiny town of Rainelle. Six deaths were reported in Kanawha, with one each in Jackson and Ohio counties. | Fifteen of the 16 deaths in Greenbrier County struck the tiny town of Rainelle. Six deaths were reported in Kanawha, with one each in Jackson and Ohio counties. |