Upshur churches, nonprofits and local governments face November 6 flood-aid deadline

Houses of worship, eligible nonprofits and local governments in Upshur County have until Friday, November 6, to request FEMA Public Assistance for damage from the July 21-22 storms, flooding and landslides.

In an October 29 release, the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) directed houses of worship and other nonprofits to begin by emailing WVPA@wv.gov. Include the organization’s name and county, a contact person and a brief account of the damage. Eligible organizations must submit a Request for Public Assistance to WVEMD by the deadline.

Applicants who lack email or need answers can call WVEMD State Public Assistance Officer Dr. Jason Means at 304-550-4571. Their county emergency management office can help, too.

Houses of worship and other nonprofits that do not provide critical services, such as power, water or emergency medical care, have a second application to make. Federal law requires them to seek a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan before FEMA Public Assistance can fund permanent repairs.

WVEMD advises submitting both requests together. Nonprofits have until December 16, 2026, to apply for an SBA physical damage loan, but their FEMA request is still due November 6. SBA applications are available at lending.sba.gov, with help by phone at 1-800-659-2955.

If SBA determines an organization cannot qualify for a loan, Public Assistance may pay eligible permanent repair expenses. It may also cover eligible costs above the maximum loan amount SBA approves.

“Many of the churches in these counties are the places people turn to after a disaster, and some of them took serious damage,” Means said in the release, referring to the 11 counties in the disaster declaration. “We want every congregation that may qualify to know about this program and to contact us before the deadline. We also want to be clear that this program is for organizations, not for individual residents.”

The funding can help with debris cleanup, emergency protective work and repairs or replacement of damaged buildings and facilities. My Buckhannon reported October 8 that Upshur was approved for federal Public Assistance, which was added to the state’s disaster declaration, DR-4932-WV, October 7.

My Buckhannon reported October 20 that Buckhannon plans to seek FEMA reimbursement directly for hauling flood debris under a city-county agreement approved by City Council.

Eligible government applicants include municipalities, county commissions, boards of education, public service districts and other special districts. Private nonprofits that may qualify include houses of worship, volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, hospitals, clinics, nonprofit utilities, water associations, community centers, senior centers, libraries, food banks and homeless shelters.

Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other houses of worship can qualify under federal law even when their facilities serve primarily religious purposes. Limiting leadership or membership to people of the same faith does not disqualify them. Funding is not assured; each facility and repair undergoes an eligibility review.

Private nonprofits need a current IRS tax-exemption ruling letter or other documentation of nonprofit status under West Virginia law. Houses of worship, however, have automatic IRS tax-exempt status.

Applicants should gather proof of nonprofit status, the facility’s address and photos or other damage records. They also need insurance policies, claim updates and records of expenses already paid for cleanup, emergency work or repairs. FEMA cannot pay expenses covered by insurance or duplicate other funding.

The same aid is available to eligible organizations with damage in Lewis, Barbour, Randolph, Doddridge, Pendleton, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tucker, Tyler and Wetzel counties. WVEMD’s general information line is 304-558-5380, and its website is emd.wv.gov.