WV Office of Insurance Commissioner
Telephone: 888-TRY-WVIC
Web link: http://www.wvinsurance.gov

National Flood Insurance Program
If you have flood insurance, the first step is to call your flood insurance agent or company with your policy number and contact information. An adjuster will probably be assigned to you within a few days, and he or she will visit with you.

Gather any photos or receipts you had before the flooding, and take photos of water or damaged property in the building. Work with the adjuster on a proof of loss form to calculate the damage for an accurate estimate. That must be filed within 60 days of the flood. Policyholders insured under NFIP can call the FEMA helpline seven days a week with questions about their flood insurance: 803-621-3362.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Web link: http://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program

Contact the WV Attorney Generals Office
Telephone:  1-800-368-8808
http://www.ago.wv.gov

Avoiding scam artists

• Avoid and consider reporting anyone who asks for personal information, such as Social Security numbers, or demands money for a FEMA inspection or to speed up the process.
• Be careful when hiring contractors for repairs.
• Be sure to check their credentials, such as state licenses and local business licenses and permits.  If you plan to use a contractor, get photos of the person and his or her driver’s license, vehicle and tag number.  Be upfront about it.
• Make sure to have a signed contract.

Beware of Scams:  Tips to Avoid Fraud in Aftermath of Disaster

• Only do business with licensed or bonded contractors or builders;
• Consult the Better Business Bureau to ensure you are working with a trustworthy business. link;
• Contact an insurance adjuster to get an estimate of the damage and repair costs;
• Be wary of contractors who solicit services door-to-door, especially those that are unfamiliar or from out of town;
• Know that under WV law, the door-to-door seller must advise you orally and in writing that you have a right to cancel the sale within three days. Clerk her for more information. Link;
• Get the salesperson’s license plate number;
• Don’t ruse into signing a contract, and never pay up-front for promised work;
• Secure the terms of any warranty work in writing; and
• Ask for references, or rely on recommendations from friends or relatives who have had experience with honest contractors.
• Although WV price gouging law prohibits vendors from illegally raising prices to reap exorbitant profits during a disaster, it does allow retailers to pass along wholesale priced increases to customers. Thus, in some cases, increased prices may not necessarily signal illegal priced gouging.

Price Gouging

Under state law, once the governor issues a declaration, vendors are prohibited from charging unconscionable pricing for goods, services, materials, merchandise, supplies, equipment, resources, or other articles of commerce, and includes without limitation, food, water, ice, chemicals, petroleum products, and lumber essential for consumption or use as a direct result of a declared state of emergency.  This prohibition remains in effect until the declaration expires or is terminated.

U.S. Small Business Administration

West Virginia residents affected by flooding might be eligible for SBA disaster assistance, which includes low-interest loans for physical damages or economic injuries for businesses and private nonprofits.

The maximum loan amount for each type is $2 million, and interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses and 2.625 percent for private nonprofits.

The SBA’s customer service line is 1-800-659-2955.  Loan applications can be downloaded at www.sba.gov/disaster.

• VolunteerWV.org sign up to volunteer yourself, groups, et. Donations may be mailed to the United Methodist Foundation PO Box 3811 Charleston WV 25338; WV VOAD in the memo line.
• Redcross Disaster Assistance – 855-224-2490; Safe and Well link: https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php.
• Salvation Army – 304.343.4548 salvationarmywv.org.
• United Way – unitedwaygreenbrier.org 304-647-3783  304-340-3500 http://www.unitedwaycwv.org.
• Local churches – WV Council of Churches 343-344-3141
• Veterans organizations – http://www.veterans.wv.gov/offices -facilities/Pages/Outreach-Services.aspx 304-558-3661