CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Mountain State’s savings will most likely be tapped to help cover the rising costs of the historic June flood that devastated parts of central and southeastern West Virginia.
Nearly two weeks after the storms, it was not clear how quickly state lawmakers would be called into a Special Session in Charleston to address flood relief funding, including potential withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund.
“It needs to be as much as is necessary to aid and bring these recovery efforts full circle,” Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer, 06), the Republican candidate for governor, said on Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
As for a possible amount, “I don’t want to try and guess. I think we’ll just be where we need to be,” Cole said.
In Greenbrier County, Rupert Mayor Jim Nichols said housing remained a major issue on Wednesday for residents forced out of their homes by flooding.
“They’re still in churches and places, (with) different neighbors and stuff,” Nichols reported.
Debris cleanup was continuing. “We didn’t get hit right in the center of town, we actually got hit on the lower part of town and up Anjean Road which is Big Clear Creek.”
Senator Greg Boso (R-Nicholas, 11) said volunteers remained in demand throughout the flood zone.
“There’s still a lot of work in the flood-impacted areas, regardless of whether it’s Nicholas County, Webster County, Pocahontas County, Greenbrier (County), Clay County. All of these counties have had impacts,” Boso said.
“We still need folks to come back in and help with that mucking out and debris removal.”
Earlier this weekend, Volunteer West Virginia reported that nearly 4,000 individuals had registered to volunteer in the flood’s aftermath through the organization. Roughly 1,750 had been placed at work sites during the past week.
Two Volunteer Reception Centers were operating daily.
For Clay, Kanawha, Roane:
The VRC is set up at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, Elkview, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CONTACT: ElkviewVRC@gmail.com, 304-859-3748
For Greenbrier, Nicholas:
The VRC is set up at 204 North Jefferson Street, Lewisburg, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CONTACT: LewisburgVRC@gmail.com, 304-808-1872
Cole said West Virginia has been tested.
“I will rest easier knowing the spirit of West Virginians coming together and, quite frankly, I think, so far, our state government’s stepped up in a great way,” he said.
“I think this is an example for many other states.”