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The Flood of 2016: One week later

One week ago today West Virginia was just beginning to come to grips with some of the worst flooding in the state’s history. Up to ten inches of rain drenched all or parts of ten counties, turning normally placid rivers and creeks into raging torrents.

Homes and businesses that had been untouched by flood waters previously were submerged or washed away entirely. Early on, it was unclear how many people had died. It would take a couple of days before officials could determine that 23 people lost their lives.  Even now, the bodies of three people presumed to have drowned in Greenbrier County are still missing.

After the initial shock, folks slowly began to clean up, hampered by a lack of water and electric service and cleaning supplies. Flood victims were easily overwhelmed by the gargantuan task before them.

Since then, however, a steady and ever expanding stream of assistance has flowed into the flood zone: pallets of bottled water, buckets, mops, detergent, shovels, brooms, boots, trash bags, personal hygiene items, baby diapers, canned food and much, much more.

Financial donations from myriad sources are already in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Country music star and West Virginia native Brad Paisley has started a flood relief effort with a $100,000 contribution.  Golf pro Bubba Watson, who has a home at the Greenbrier Resort, has donated $250,000 to the Greenbrier’s Neighbors Loving Neighbors campaign.

Tonight beginning at 7 p.m., a number of television stations and the Metronews streaming channel will air Rebuild West Virginia, a two-hour special dedicated to raising money for the Red Cross flood relief efforts.

So many others have helped in smaller, but no less meaningful, ways.  In Clendenin, 89-year-old Ruby Hackney, who lost everything in the flood, said a stranger gave her the shoes off of her feet and a $20 bill.

The state Department of Transportation has made significant progress clearing and mending miles of roads wiped out by rushing waters. Senators Manchin and Capito announced Thursday a $5.7 million grant from the U.S. Transportation Department’s Quick Release program to pay for emergency repairs.

Teachers, staff, students and volunteers are pitching in to clean up school buildings caught in the floods.  The state Department of Education says at least 16 schools and one bus garage sustained moderate to severe damage.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is already handing out cash grants to individuals who have been washed out of their homes by the floods, but it’s not always easy to find places for people to live.  “We’re actively looking for all forms of housing that could be available,” said FEMA deputy division director Mike Senycz.

There’s a Chinese proverb that says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  Resilient West Virginians have taken those first difficult steps and, with the continued help from so many caring people, they will be sustained along their difficult road to recovery.

 

 





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