CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kevin Linhart was one of many Appalachian Power Company employees who experienced the June 23 flood first hand.
He was responding to call about a downed tree on Route 4 in northern Kanawha County when the storm hit.
“I went up through there and within 30 minutes, I was trapped,” he said. “It was that quick.”
That prompted Linhart, along with more than 400 AEP employees across 11 states, to donate to flood recovery efforts in West Virginia.
The company presented a $102,178 donation to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army during a check presentation at the AEP site in Charleston Monday afternoon.
“Seeing it affects people and stuff like that — what actually had happened to them — it’s kind of a reality check,” Linhart said. “You’re every day life could change in a moment.”
The donation includes $52,178 in personal contributions and a matching check of $50,000 from the AEP Foundation. Funds will be split equally between the Red Cross and Salvation Army for long term recovery efforts.
AEP made a $25,000 donation just days after the flood, but this time, employees contributed to the cause.
“When you see that it’s not only from the corporate partner, but from their employees and from their own pockets that just means the world,” said Erica Mani, regional executive for the Red Cross in West Virginia.
Mani said they’ll be using those donations to make sure flood survivors get the resources they need on a case by case basis. She said donations are still needed even months after the flood.
“A lot of people do think about giving in the early days of a disaster, but recovery is really measured in months and sometimes years,” she said.
During Monday’s press conference, Charles Patton, Appalachian Power president and COO, praised local, state and federal agencies for their response as well as volunteer organizations statewide.
“Today we’re here to recognize the unprecedented effort that’s taken place to get these communities back on their feet and to contribute funds in recognition of the fact that much more work is still ahead,” Patton said in a news release.
Tuesday marks exactly two months since the historic flood.