10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

More than a month later and flood cleanup goes on

WEBSTER SPRINGS, W.Va. — Nearly a month after an unexpected flash flood the cleanup goes on in several West Virginia communities.   Webster County was among those hard hit in the torrential storms the week of July 13.

“Our department of highways continues to fix some rough spots, ditches, and blacktop sections that were taken out,” said Webster County Emergency Services Manager Richard Rose.

The storms which impacted a wide stretch of central West Virginia caused the most damage to Webster Memorial Hospital.

“Currently they are getting their basement repaired, the floors are finished, and they’ve got some new kitchen equipment ordered,” said Rose. “We’ve been working with the insurance company through the County Commission to take care of some of those needs.”

A federal disaster declaration will provide aid money to public infrastructure and possibly the hospital damaged by the high water, but it won’t provide any help for private property.  Although the damage to most private property wasn’t major, it seemed like it if it was yours.

“It was major damage to all of the citizens with mud and water in basements,” said Rose. “Our biggest problem was access roads and driveways to these folks’ homes washed out in the affect areas.”

Residents in those situations are having to pay for the repairs on their own or through some charitable organizations.

The damage was equally bad in Wood County that week where several homes in the community of Mineral Wells were destroyed.

“Most of the homes are getting back in order with construction still going on,” said Ed Hupp, Director of Emergency Services in Wood County. “There were about 20 mobile homes destroyed.  Right now they’re just sitting empty until we figure out what the plan is.”

Hubb said most of the debris is cleaned up and road repairs continue.  One particular road is still impassable due to a collapsed culvert.

The long process of going through FEMA for applications for funding and assistance is now underway in all counties where damage was done.





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