CLENDENIN, W.Va. — A mix of frustration, anger and confusion, but also a sense of community marked a public meeting in Clendenin Thursday night two weeks after the northern Kanawha County city was underwater due to historic flooding.
The meeting, which lasted over two hours and was hosted by state House of Delegates speaker Tim Armstead at the Clendenin Volunteer Fire Department, mostly consisted of questions from residents desperate for answers.
“What discourages me is that we take care of people in other places and other countries, and I don’t have a problem with that. I think we should do that,” said pastor at the Full Gospel Church in Queen Shoals Scott Means. “But I don’t understand why we have these resources like FEMA and other agencies; it seems like what they have to offer to the American people is like a band-aid on a broken leg.”
FEMA, the subject of much frustration Thursday night, can only reimburse destroyed housing up to about $33,000.
“I talked to multiple people who came up to me and said my house damage was valued at 100 grand, and they only offered me $33,000. So I think learning about the caps and restrictions on FEMA tonight was very important,” said Sen. Chris Walters, who has worked tirelessly in the Clendenin area since the flood.
Walters was joined by several state and local leaders, including state AG Patrick Morrisey, Kanawha Commissioners Kent Carper and Dave Hardy, state Sens. Ed Gaunch and Tom Takubo and Clendenin Mayor Gary Bledsoe.
“We needed everyone in the room tonight,” Armstead said. “The federal, FEMA, state agencies, the county agencies all in a room to really hear what the concerns are. And then, to also let everyone here know we’re here to help them work through those concerns as much as we can.”
Cassie Patton, a Clendenin resident who said both her parents lost their homes, was furious with FEMA.
“I think it’s a joke. They didn’t give us (any) answers. They seem to keep just pushing the issues to somebody else,” she said. “We need some answers. We need some income coming back in and this town needs a lot of help. It seems like everybody’s just getting the run around.”
But Rosie Workman, who said FEMA paid her the maximum amount, said her post-flood experience has been largely positive.
“So far everybody has been so helpful. We’ve had hundreds of volunteers come and help. Food delivered, supplies delivered; FEMA has been great,” Workman said. “I want to stay in my house. I love being on the (Elk) River. I like to fish, swim, kayak and boat. I’ve been there all my life. We’re family and a tight-knit community.”
Amstead said he expects a special session toward the end of the summer to discuss the allocation of Rainy Day Fund money in the wake of the flood.
“By the time we get into next month, we’ll start to have a better picture of what’s going to be needed in terms of Rainy Day Funds. I anticipate we’ll be in special session sometime in August or September.”
Armstead is scheduled to hold another meeting Friday night at 7 p.m. at Elkview Baptist Church.