W.Va. governor seeks more individual storm aid

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is seeking more federal assistance for residents who sustained property losses during a fierce June windstorm.

Tomblin's office announced Tuesday that he has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide individual assistance in 20 counties.

In September, FEMA approved individual assistance for residents in Fayette, Kanawha, Nicholas and Raleigh counties after Tomblin appealed the agency's initial denial of aid.

The governor's new request seeks individual assistance in Boone, Cabell, Clay, Greenbrier, Harrison, Jackson, Lincoln, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Pocahontas, Putnam, Randolph, Roane, Tyler, Webster, Wetzel and Wood counties.

The June 29 derecho and subsequent storms left three people dead and more than 680,000 customers without electricity across the state.