WEBSTER SPRINGS, W.Va. — The massive flooding that damaged the Webster County Memorial Hospital in July led to a $50,000 grant award, but an official with the hospital said they aren’t quite full speed yet.
Senator Greg Boso (R – Nicholas, 11) said the funding is a good start.
“Having that funding that targets restoration of our infrastructure is vitally important,” Boso said during the MetroNews-affiliated “The Mike Queen Show” on the AJR News Network.
Flood damage impacted the cafeteria, some maintenance rooms, and the heating system. Lisa Bragg, a spokesperson for the hospital, said the time table is still fluid.
Senator Boso assisted in bringing $50,000 in grant money to begin the repairs.
“I’ve been working with the Governor’s office to make sure they had the information necessary to make the appropriate assessments,” Boso said.
He also said that some money will be needed to reimburse fire departments that assisted in the emergency situation.
“Departments do get remuneration for the funds that they’ve expended during those types of disasters,” Boso said. “I’m not sure which departments will get any or what percentage will go to those.”
The hospital can house up to 15 patients, but can’t feed them in-house currently due to the damage to the cafeteria.
The grant money came from the Rural Health Systems Program, which was passed by the state legislature in 1996. Since its inception, it has awarded grants totaling more than $6 million.