A car is partially submerged on Wheeling Island during flooding on April 4. (File photo)

A team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be in Ohio County today to examine damage stemming from flooding happening earlier this month.

“They are coming to do a damage assessment,” explained Lou Vargo, director of Ohio County Emergency Management Agency. “We did a preliminary damage assessment that was sent on to the state. Now they (FEMA) feel there is enough to complete a full assessment.”

The team will look at damage occurring on Wheeling Island, and they will also take a tour of South Wheeling, mudslide areas, and other neighborhoods affected.

The tour group will convene this morning at the emergency operations center at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling.

Vargo explained the purpose of the damage assessment.

He said FEMA and the West Virginia EMA will compile a record of the damage they see, then submit it for presidential declaration as a national disaster.

“If we get that, FEMA will come in with teams to address all parties affected and have them make an application for reimbursement through the Individual Assistance Program,” Vargo continued.

Vargo said he wasn’t certain how long the FEMA team will be in Ohio County today. He expects it will take “several hours” to look at different houses destroyed and landslides, then drive by heavily affected areas.

“They are committed to Ohio County (Monday), and will do Marshall and Wetzel counties on Tuesday,” he said.