Damage such as this to a Tyler County home can be claimed to FEMA in an effort to gain funding assistance for the county.

Tyler County Emergency Management officials are urging country residents affected by June’s heavy storms to report any and all damage to FEMA in an effort to gain personal assistance.

According to Tom Cooper, Tyler County Emergency Management Director, anyone who had losses or damages due to the Derecho storm of June 29 should call and register their damage with FEMA. The number is 1-800-621-FEMA. Tyler County is currently a non-designated county for this disaster, but by encouraging those with damages to register with FEMA, Cooper said the chances that the county be requested to be added to the disaster declaration would increase. Additionally, it will enable the individuals with losses to qualify for disaster assistance, he said.

“Nearly everyone suffered damage, even if minor,” he said. “Still, everyone needs to call.”

Cooper said early in the days following the storm, many people called the FEMA number. Because of their early phone call, many may assume they have already registered. However, those who called earlier are not registered and need to call again to make the registration.

Cooper also stressed that this registration does not make a person eligible for assistance, as it is only a means at this time for the state to gather justification information to request the addition of the county to the current declaration.

The state has been able many times in the past to use the information gathered in this way to add counties to a disaster and is trying to do the same this time, Cooper said. There are many individuals in Tyler County who may be eligible for assistance and will only have that opportunity if they take the time to register now with FEMA.

“Even if it has been repaired, it can still be claimed,” Cooper said. “Those numbers add up.”

Individuals with questions can contact Cooper at 304-758-5155 or tjcooper@frontier.com.