SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As victims of the early May flooding in Southern West Virginia move toward rebuilding, work done by 47 volunteer organizations now involved with flood relief takes center stage.

To make sure that every dollar and every hour of labor donated to the organizations for flood recovery is used efficiently, a new Web site has been established to avoid duplication and focus support on the areas of greatest need.

At the new West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Web site, www.wvvoad.org, donors can view a list to see what recovery supplies are most in demand, scan a list of volunteer work opportunities, or select which organizations should receive the cash they are donating.

"The Website will be updated constantly to make sure the best possible information is available," said Cheryl Ingraham, director of West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

For those without Internet access or who wish to donate to the overall recovery cause, checks can be made out to Disaster Relief Fund and mailed to Disaster Relief Fund, c/o United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, P.O. Box 3811, Charleston, WV 25338.

"We have a wonderful collaboration in place with FEMA and other state and federal agencies and the private and faith-based agencies," Ingraham said.

"But there will still be a lot of work to do after FEMA and the National Guard leave. ...With the economy in the state that it's in, none of us can carry the burden alone. But we need to make sure we're all working together and not duplicating services or donating things that aren't really needed."

Cash is probably the most valuable donation to be made, Ingraham said, because "needs change, and cash allows us to meet new needs immediately. We can also buy locally and help rebuild the local economy."

The announcement of the new Web site was made Friday at FEMA's joint field office in the former Goody's department store at Dudley Farms Plaza, where about 200 FEMA workers were processing disaster assistance applications and performing other relief tasks.

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As victims of the early May flooding in Southern West Virginia move toward rebuilding, work done by 47 volunteer organizations now involved with flood relief takes center stage.

To make sure that every dollar and every hour of labor donated to the organizations for flood recovery is used efficiently, a new Web site has been established to avoid duplication and focus support on the areas of greatest need.

At the new West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Web site, www.wvvoad.org, donors can view a list to see what recovery supplies are most in demand, scan a list of volunteer work opportunities, or select which organizations should receive the cash they are donating.

"The Website will be updated constantly to make sure the best possible information is available," said Cheryl Ingraham, director of West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.

For those without Internet access or who wish to donate to the overall recovery cause, checks can be made out to Disaster Relief Fund and mailed to Disaster Relief Fund, c/o United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, P.O. Box 3811, Charleston, WV 25338.

"We have a wonderful collaboration in place with FEMA and other state and federal agencies and the private and faith-based agencies," Ingraham said.

"But there will still be a lot of work to do after FEMA and the National Guard leave. ...With the economy in the state that it's in, none of us can carry the burden alone. But we need to make sure we're all working together and not duplicating services or donating things that aren't really needed."

Cash is probably the most valuable donation to be made, Ingraham said, because "needs change, and cash allows us to meet new needs immediately. We can also buy locally and help rebuild the local economy."

The announcement of the new Web site was made Friday at FEMA's joint field office in the former Goody's department store at Dudley Farms Plaza, where about 200 FEMA workers were processing disaster assistance applications and performing other relief tasks.

So far, according to FEMA officials, about 3,000 disaster assistance applications have been received, and about 1,700 of them approved, generating a total of $7.5 million in grants to flood victims to date -- an average of about $4,500 per applicant.

State Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Jimmy Gianato said state officials are finalizing a plan to help homeowners and businesses replace the more than 400 private bridges washed out in the May flooding.

He added that about 600 National Guard troops have been deployed, mainly to help haul off flood debris.

Disaster assistance officials urge anyone who has received a Small Business Administration disaster loan application to complete and return it. Those who are determined to be unable to afford the SBA loans will be referred to FEMA for possible grant assistance.

FEMA's toll-free disaster assistance number is 1-800-621-FEMA.

Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelham...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5169.