CLENDENIN, W.Va. — One of the many victims of the June 23 flood in West Virginia was the Kanawha County Public Library branches in Elkview and Clendenin.
The Clendenin location was inundated with nine-feet of water. The Elkview branch is located and the Crossings Mall and while the building sustained no damage, there is no way to access the facility since the bridge culvert to get there is still washed out.
The county Library Board has voted to cleanup the Clendenin branch, but according to county library director Alan Engelbert no decision has been made on the next step.
“The board is still considering razing the building and starting over or whether to cleanup the existing building,” Engelbert said. “What the board has decided to do is hire a firm to go in and cleanup the building, we can’t let the building sit there in the condition it is any longer.”
Engelbert said their options are still open on the final decision. If renovated, it will be a steep repair with the entire electrical and HVAC system in need of replacement.
A lot of the library’s equipment and books were destroyed back in 1997 when another flood got into the building. Engelbert said they’ve considered moving the site, but moving forward with the cleanup leaves more time to consider their options.
Engelbert said the Crossings Mall location is fine, but there is no access.
“Our building itself in Elkview is completely undamaged, but the access road to the mall is gone.” he said.
The estimated cost right now is more than $400,000 Engelbert believes the library board could recoup flood insurance money and reimbursement from FEMA to help cover the costs. The one thing Engelbert stressed was one library in the community will be open.
“We’re very well aware there are needs for school kids, adults and seniors and the need for good library access in Clendenin,” Engelbert said. “We’re committed to providing that.”