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Gov. Jim Justice announced this week the Federal Emergency Management Agency has turned down the state's request for emergency funding after spring flooding in Cabell, Putnam and Roane counties. It's a shame, but one can hardly blame FEMA, given the way we've handled emergency funding after floods over the past several years.
In this case, FEMA reportedly said the flooding in May did not reach the level of warranting federal assistance. Certainly residents of the affected counties might disagree. And of course, the state has 30 days to appeal the decision.
"We're going to push as hard as we possibly can, but it's a disappointment to tell you the truth," Justice said.
A disappointment, perhaps, but not a surprise.
In this case, federal decision-makers already know West Virginia has stung them a bit, when it comes to disaster funding. In the same month the most recent flooding hit, the Mountain State was -- again -- labeled a "slow spender" by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Such a designation comes when a state has spent less than 10% of the monthly pace required to fully use a grant by the grant's target closeout. In other words, the federal government knows we tend to dawdle and get creative with taxpayer dollars.
It's biting us now. Perhaps those arguing in an appeal will find ways to prove we've seen the error of our ways, and that the mistakes of the past should not harm those who are now trying to rebuild in Cabell, Putnam and Roane counties.
But we shouldn't hold our breath. It seems the folks who hand out federal money are on to us.