Published: August 14, 2008 08:58 pm            

McDowell takes steps to curb possible heating crisis

WELCH — With a possible crisis looming this winter, officials in McDowell County are taking steps to offset anticipated hardships of low-income families and senior citizens bracing for soaring home heating costs.

A Home Heating Crisis Assistance Forum will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 1:30 p.m. at the McDowell County Library in Welch. The purpose of the event is to mobilize local resources to help eligible families with the high costs of heat, specifically fuel oil, this coming winter, according to Randal Johnson, executive director of the Council of Southern Mountains in Northfork.

“We are still hearing concerns — especially regarding the heating oil,” Johnson said Thursday. “They (the citizens of McDowell County) are very concerned about what they are going to do. We are also getting a lot of responses from the community in wanting to help. People realize theses high costs are going to impact people of low and middle income. We have one of the highest populations of senior citizens in the state. That group just needs a tremendous amount of help. Because of the high percentage of elderly and people with disabilities in the county, we are in a little bit of a unique situation.”

Johnson said the cost of heating oil in McDowell County Wednesday was quoted at $4.79 a gallon. Johnson said most fuel oil distributors do not have a budget plan like other utilities, and payment is normally required upon delivery of the heating oil.

Johnson said the Council of the Southern Mountains operates a weatherization assistance program in McDowell County to help insulate homes for eligible families. However, the demand for the service is currently greater than what can be met with present funding.

“The council, as advocates for the low-income families in our area, realizes that action must be taken now to help offset the probable hardships facing people this coming winter,” Johnson said. “Based on the dramatic price increases and our experience with high demand for assistance with home heating last winter, intervention strategies must be developed.”

Johnson said unless there is a continued and dramatic decrease in prices combined with a mild winter, a crisis could be looming for area residents. Even with available heating assistance programs, including the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, only about 15 percent of all eligible families receive support, and that amount normally helps with only 20 percent of their fuel costs, according to a council press release.

The council is encouraging local agencies and legislators to attend the forum. The public also is urged to attend so plans can be made to help those who will be in need, and to disseminate information about available resources, the news release said.

Anyone seeking additional information about the upcoming Home Heating Crisis Assistance Forum should call the council at 862-3144 or 327-5305.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com

        

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