CHARLESTON – Nearly 40 days after devastating flash flooding caused massive damage and claimed the lives of nine people, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday afternoon that a disaster declaration was issued for Ohio and Marion counties.

“It is my Great Honor to grant $11.7 Million Dollars to the beautiful State of West Virginia for severe tornadoes and flooding that impacted their incredible people in June,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Tuesday evening. “I just finished speaking with their wonderful Governor, Patrick Morrisey, and look forward to seeing the State make a full recovery. I love West Virginia!”

“President Trump and his administration has shown once again that they will step up and support West Virginia,” Morrisey posted on X. “Thank you for providing us with another tool to help these communities make a full recovery.”

Between 2.5 and 4 inches of rain fell in Ohio County in the Triadelphia and Valley Grove areas in 30 minutes the night of June 14, according to the National Weather Service, sweeping away vehicles, damaging buildings and killing nine people. Additional storms hit Marion County throughout June 15, with approximately 3 inches of rain dropping throughout the day, causing significant damage to homes, businesses and roads.

The federal disaster declaration will start the flow of recovery dollars to West Virginia through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, individual assistance for homeowners and businesses, and public assistance programs to reimburse state and local first responders and governments as they continue to work on cleanup and recovery.

Residents have been waiting on further federal assistance since June 20, when Morrisey submitted West Virginia’s application for a federal disaster declaration. Morrisey and the state’s congressional delegation – Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice and Reps. Riley Moore and Carol Miller, all R-W.Va. – have been advocating for the declaration.

“The West Virginia Congressional Delegation is grateful to the Trump administration for the major disaster declaration and emergency declaration giving the approval of our state’s request for federal disaster aid,” the delegation said in a joint statement Tuesday. “The flooding that occurred saw devastating loss of life and property, and we are glad that much-needed help is on the way to help these communities recover and rebuild. We commend the bravery of the first responders who sprang into action and the local leaders, churches, and charities who have been on the ground helping victims begin to rebuild their lives.”

This is the third major flood event to occur in West Virginia resulting in a state of emergency. West Virginia received a federal disaster declaration on Feb. 27 for McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties following flash flooding that hit a 13-county region in Southern West Virginia between Feb. 14-16. Those floods killed two grandparents and one of their grandchildren. Another state of emergency was issued in May for significant flood damage in Mineral County.

According to a review of federal disaster declarations on FEMA’s website, most declarations for states have come between 30 and 40 days following a reported natural disaster except in the case of Kentucky and Tennessee at the beginning of April and the July 2-4 Texas flooding that resulted in 134 deaths with three people still missing.