Flood-Stricken West Virginia to Receive Federal Aid

West Virginia counties devastated by heavy flooding and torrential rains will receive federal disaster assistance, the state's governor announced.

President Barack Obama signed the federal disaster declaration for Kanawha, Greenbrier and Nicholas counties, Saturday night and sent his condolences to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin by phone.

The White House said Obama is committed to ensuring that Tomblin has the federal resources he needs for all recovery efforts.

The people who live in these counties will receive aid for temporary housing and home repairs. They will receive low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Federal money will also be sent to help the state and local governments.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has called the flooding "among the worst in a century" for some parts of the state.

Greenbrier County was the hardest hit. Fifteen of the 16 deaths were in the town of Rainelle located in that county. Rescue workers waded through water to find people hanging onto trees, hiding in attics, and waiting it out on roofs.

The governor's chief of staff, Chris Stadelman, said the Tomblin administration believes people are still missing in Greenbrier County, but they are beginning to shift to community recovery.

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were in the state to begin assessing the damage to infrastructure, homes and other property.

Rainelle Mayor Andrea "Andy" Pendleton cried as she surveyed the damage.

"I weep for my people; I weep for the businesses," she said.

More than 24,000 homes and business remained without power through the night. Six buses toted full loads of county resident's to dry land--40 miles away from Rainelle.

Help came from multiple sources, including CBN's Operation Blessing, which sent its Hunger Strike Force with food and disaster relief supplies for residents.

To help West Virginia flood victims, visit ob.org.