QUEEN SHOALS, W.Va. — A church that sits on the Kanawha-Clay county line was destroyed in the June 23 flood, but the pastor there says they’re working to get their community healed before rebuilding the structure.
“It’s devastating,” said Scott Means, pastor at the Full Gospel Church in Queen Shoals near Clendenin. “I told our congregation we were going to focus on the community first.”
Donations have been pouring in from organizations and individuals across West Virginia and surrounding states, Means said on Thursday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
“We’ve got a little church. There’s no way we could have done this,” he said.
Currently, Means said the church needs wheel barrels, portable tents/showers, water hoses and nozzles, tarps, portable canopies and storage boxes.
The Queen Shoals area was particularly hit hard by the flood. Valley View Drive is the most flood damaged road in the state, according to the state Division of Highways. Homes along that road were completely washed away.
“The road is out for about a mile and a half. It’s just gone,” Means said.
Means said he’s concerned about long term recovery and donations to the church.
“I’m terrified that this is going to go away in a week or two. From what I’m seeing, this could go on three months, six months to a year,” he said. “I don’t know how much FEMA is going to be able to help these people.”
Means said they have received a lot of donations for food and medical supplies.