U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito visited Wheeling on Tuesday, touring different areas, including the new fire headquarters.
Capito took a tour of the new facility in East Wheeling, which serves the second largest fire station in the state.
Capito said it's important to keep local fire stations current.
"We wanted to help them modernize some of their satellite stations, so we wanted to see the main station, learn about their equipment, what their needs are,” Capito said. “But we also talked to the mayor and other economic development folks about some other ways we've been helping Wheeling."
Capito also discussed with local officials the progress of projects that are benefitting from federal funding. This includes $5 million toward the Heritage Visitors Center, $2 million to the Gateway Center and $250,000 for the police department.
Officials also briefed Capito on the progress made since the June floods in Ohio County, while asking what else FEMA can do to help.
Currently, FEMA payments are stuck because of the partial government shutdown, but Capito said this could be resolved once things return to normal.
"I came up here shortly after the flood just to see how the federal response was with FEMA,” Capito said. “OK, but then I find out (Tuesday) that they haven't gotten public assistance checks. Well, that shouldn't happen. This is almost two years ago, and people are waiting, expecting, and so we are going to take that back. So, it's a good way to have some give and take."
Moving forward, Capito hopes to continue championing bills that can directly benefit communities like Wheeling.
"I think what it means is I'm able to really put a foot on a scale for what I think is good for wheeling, Ohio County, and really the whole state in general,” Capito said. “I'm on the appropriations committee. I chair one of the major committees. And, so, I can say this pot of money is going to be really good for Wheeling Fire Department, they've expressed a need that through the process."