CHARLESTON (AP) — The federal government has denied Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s request for individual assistance to help homeowners hit by a June 29 windstorm, Tomblin said Thursday night.

Tomblin said he plans to appeal the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He also wants West Virginia’s congressional delegation to arrange a meeting with FEMA leadership.

“I strongly disagree with FEMA’s decision to deny sorely needed federal assistance to the victims of the unprecedented June 2012 derecho,” Gov. Tomblin said.

Tomblin says he wants to describe to FEMA the destruction he saw from the storm.

“While I hope an appeal will reverse today’s federal decision, I understand there are many families struggling to recover from the significant financial impact of the storm, and I appreciate the many organizations throughout West Virginia that continue to provide assistance to them,” Tomblin said.

The June 29 storm and subsequent storms left three people dead and more than 680,000 customers without electricity across the state. Some had to wait nearly two weeks to have their power restored.

Tomblin had sought individual assistance in at least 24 counties, including grants and services for people who incurred uninsured property damage and loss.