Southern West Virginia Flood Recovery Efforts are Still Ongoing

Southern West Virginia residents are still clearing mud, mold and destroyed belongings from their homes and properties more than two months after flash flooding impacted 13 counties. 

According to volunteers on the ground, such as Sydnei Tatum, who was born and raised in McDowell County and currently lives across the border in Virginia, the need is still great. A mother and photographer, Sydnei put her photography business on hold to document and assist with clean-up efforts. She says many people live off the beaten path outside the main towns in the area. Roads and bridges are out. People live in homes with wet carpets, wet mattresses, wet walls and mold. Many cannot afford to repair their homes, rebuild their homes, or move to another location. 

For people who have received FEMA assistance in McDowell County, for example, the dollar amount is typically not enough to repair, rebuild, or move. Furthermore, there are few or no homes or apartments to rent. Even if people can afford to repair or rebuild,  few licensed contractors are available to do the work.

You can learn more about the status of flood recovery efforts in these reports:

• 100 Days in Appalachia video: Hell or High Water: Southern W.Va. Three Weeks After the Flood
• West Virginia Watch article: McDowell residents feel forgotten, overwhelmed as they face flood recovery with limited help
• Mountain State Spotlight article: Morrisey promised to be there ‘every step of the way’ in flood recovery. Residents wonder where that help is now. 

While some state and federal flood recovery support has been available, it isn’t enough; it’s drying up and is not available to everyone. In late April, Governor Morrissey announced that FEMA had denied individual assistance to people in seven impacted counties and public assistance to two impacted counties. See FEMA’s refusal to help some West Virginia counties just a taste of what’s to come by West Virginia Watch.

Volunteers from civic organizations, faith groups, communities, and West Virginia students continue to fill the gap in clean-up efforts. In many instances, these friends and neighbors are the only help southern West Virginians have received. 

What You Can Do

VOLUNTEER

Southern West Virginia Flood Response: Tommy Thompson, a musician and West Virginia University student, is working with about 10 fellow students to lead what Tommy calls a single-minded effort, the “Southern West Virginia Flood Response,” to get volunteers to southern WV.  They organize, schedule, and carry out clean-up efforts. To date, they’ve worked with about 40 volunteers and have made two trips to southern WV. They’re currently seeking volunteers for the next trip. You can fill out their volunteer form here.

WV Conference of the United Methodist Church Disaster Response: The WV Conference of the United Methodist Church publicizes volunteer efforts and ways to support Southern WV Flood Relief at its Disaster Response sites:

https://www.wvumc.org/news-detail/support-southern-wv-flood-relief-18924425

https://www.facebook.com/WVUMCDisasterResponse

• Notice-May 9-10 clean up: Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, Don Stilgenbauer is leading a flood clean-up team to McDowell County. They will meet that Friday at 9:30 AM at Houston United Methodist Church in Kimball. If you want to work one or both days, please send Don your name, cell phone number and date of birth (for insurance) to: disasterresponse@wvumc.org

DONATE

Blue Jay Rising:  https://www.bluejayrising.org/rapid_response

WV Conference of the United Methodist Church Disaster Response: https://www.wvumc.org/news-detail/support-southern-wv-flood-relief-18924425

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS

Southern West Virginia flooding issues must be addressed in the short and long term. The needs range from better flood preparation, management and prevention, to rebuilding roads, bridges, and culverts; addressing creeks and waterways that carry refuse during flooding, causing bottlenecks and more flooding; ensuring people have enough assistance to recover, rebuild or relocate; and more. 

These problems are only amplified by existing needs for safe drinking water and wastewater services, more and better housing, along with high poverty levels and a large population of elderly or disabled residents in some southern West Virginia counties. All of this requires funding, but it first requires a commitment at all levels of government to address the problems.  

We encourage West Virginia legislators to begin that process: visit the area, form working groups that include local people at the table, and talk with residents about what they need.

Let your elected representative know what you think. You can find your West Virginia Legislators at: https://wvecouncil.org/wv-legislature/