CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia landowners in 26 counties affected by severe storms this month may be eligible to seek disaster assistance through their local conservation districts.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice declared a State of Emergency for 26 counties affected by severe storms that began April 2 and caused flooding, downed trees, power outages, road blockages and in some cases, tornadoes. The counties included are: Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Calhoun, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Mingo, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wayne, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood counties.   

Landowners in these counties may be eligible for Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program assistance.

The EWP Program offers technical and financial assistance to local and state government agencies. Staff within these local eligible entities help landowners recover from natural disasters that pose an imminent threat to life, property, or both. 

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the EWP Program. All projects must have an eligible project sponsor. NRCS provides up to 75 percent of the eligible construction cost and the West Virginia Conservation Agency (WVCA) contributes the remaining 25 percent.

Conservation districts and the WVCA, which provides financial, technical, and administrative assistance, are local sponsors.  

Affected residents should contact their local conservation district to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from the storm.

Examples of common EWP projects are repairing and stabilizing damaged streambanks or channels and removing debris that is restricting stream flow, or blocking bridges or culverts that threaten infrastructure (roads, homes, structures, etc.)

Each county affected is within a specific conservation district. Residents should contact the specific conservation district where the damage from the storm has occurred. Calls will be accepted until May 10. Ask to speak to the conservation district’s administrative specialist. 

•    Barbour County is in the Tygarts Valley Conservation District, which can be reached at: (304) 457-3026.

•    Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo and Wayne counties are within the Guyan Conservation District, which can be reached at: (304) 528-5718.

•    Braxton and Nicholas counties are within the Elk Conservation District, which can be reached at: (304) 765-2535.

•    Fayette County is in the Southern Conservation District, which can be reached at: (304) 253-0261.

•    Kanawha County is in the Capitol Conservation District, which can be reached at: (304) 759-0736.

•    Calhoun, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties are within the Little Kanawha Conservation District, which can be reached at: (304) 422-9088.

•    Brooke, Hancock, Marshall and Ohio counties are within the Northern Panhandle Conservation District, which can be reached at: (304) 238-1231.

•    Doddridge, Gilmer and Harrison counties are within the West Fork Conservation District, which can be reached at: (304) 627-2160.

•    Jackson County is in the Western Conservation District, which can be reached at: (304) 675-3054.

•    Pleasants, Wetzel and Tyler counties are within the Upper Ohio Conservation District, which can be reached at: (304) 758-2512. 

In addition to Emergency Watershed Protection that assists with recovery and future damage prevention for structures, USDA may have other programs available to assist with recovery on agricultural lands, such as damage to crops or eroding streambanks that threaten farmland or forestland. Contact your local conservation district to learn more.

The mission of the West Virginia Conservation Agency is to provide for and promote the protection and conservation of West Virginia’s soil, land, water and related resources for the health, safety and general welfare of the state’s citizens.