The Flood of 2016 has produced an overwhelming outpouring of help and support. Thousands of individuals and organizations immediately pitched in to gather and distribute supplies, raise money, provide services, prayers and other support.
We’ve heard the story over and over of how West Virginians caught up in the historic flooding have been deeply moved by the generosity of others. Hopefully, those who suffered catastrophic losses have been sustained by the acts of kindness.
Officials report from the hardest hit areas about the remarkable progress that has been made in less than two weeks clearing debris, mucking out homes, making flooded out roads passable and organizing relief services out of the initial chaos.
But those same officials caution that this will be a long haul. It will take months, perhaps years, to repair the physical and emotional toll.
One of the biggest problems will be housing. FEMA estimates that more than 5,500 homes and businesses were impacted by the floods. 1,500 of those structures, mostly houses, are damaged beyond repair.
FEMA has quickly pushed out money to those who have lost their homes so they can pay for a place to stay, but that’s only temporary. Where and how are those folks going to resettle? State and federal officials say it’s possible that modular home parks can be set up, but no final decision has been made yet.
Dozens of business owners are now trying to decide whether to rebuild in communities where the economy is already fragile. For example, Rainelle town councilman Ron Fleshman has owned the Nationwide Insurance business there for years. His office was wiped out by the flood and at 67 years old, he’s not sure he wants to rebuild.
At some point, the hard-working volunteers and service organizations, who are providing so much immediate help, will head home and the news media will inevitably spend less time telling the stories of recovery and highlighting the needs, but a less dramatic and more complicated story will remain.
We have to remember that the rebuilding of communities and individual lives will go on for a long time. The necessities will evolve from bottled water and cleaning supplies to a more permanent place to live, a job or a new business in town.
West Virginia will need the same level of energy and enthusiasm going forward that has been exhibited in the days immediately after the disaster to ensure that those hardest hit by the Flood of 2016 are not forgotten.