This June photo shows the aftermath of deadly flash flooding that occurred in Ohio County on June 14. (File Photo)

WHEELING — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said Thursday she has been told by the Trump administration that a federal disaster declaration for Ohio and Marion counties could come “early next week.”

Capito, R-W.Va., told reporters Thursday during her weekly call with the media that she has been talking to “anybody and everybody I can to move this along,” and she was told Wednesday when to expect a declaration.

“To be perfectly straight up honest with you, the White House told me early next week,” Capito said.

Even then, Capito questioned administration officials as to why it couldn’t happen sooner.

“I pretty much lost it … to be honest with you. I said, ‘What’s wrong with the end of this week?'” she said.

“I think it’s a process thing we’re caught in right now. And so we’ve got to hope for the first part of next week.”

West Virginians in flood-stricken areas have been waiting for President Donald Trump to sign a federal disaster declaration, which would unlock the full menu of FEMA aid.

On June 14, torrential rains caused flash floods that killed nine people, destroyed dozens of homes and caused millions of dollars in damage in Valley Grove, Triadelphia, Elm Grove and Woodsdale. Heavy rain in Marion County on June 15 led to significant property damage.

Both Gov. Patrick Morrisey and West Virginia’s congressional delegation — Capito and Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., as well as Reps. Riley Moore and Carol Miller, both R-W.Va. — submitted requests for FEMA aid shortly after the floods. The applications for aid from both Morrisey and the congressional delegation were submitted June 20. The White House said it received those applications on July 3.

Since then, Capito said she has had “numerous conversations” with the White House. When she was there Wednesday, she said she talked with White House officials, called Trump’s office and talked with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles about a disaster declaration for the two counties.

As those counties have had to wait, Capito said she has turned up the pressure.

“I know there’s frustrations at home,” she said. “I share the frustrations and we’re hearing those frustrations repeatedly, believe me. I’ve taken this to the most aggressive level; not just a letter, but talking to anybody and everybody that I can to move this along. … That’s tough stuff for them in the Triadelphia, Ohio County area and also in Marion County.”

A major disaster declaration from Trump would give residents affected by the flood access to FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, which would provide financial aid to homeowners and renters affected by the flooding. FEMA’s Public Assistance program would unlock supplemental financial assistance for state agencies and local governments.

“We have a lot of people that need this individual assistance desperately, that needed it for weeks,” Capito said.