CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For the first time, a combination of both structure demolition and rebuilding will be an option for West Virginia residents washed out of their homes and businesses in the June 23 flood and seeking assistance from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to prevent future flooding through reconstruction steps.
What’s called “demo and rebuild,” in the view of Al Lisko, director of mitigation/recovery for the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, is a way to keep flooded communities intact — a concern that’s been raised many times in the months since the flood.
With the number of destroyed structures in the Flood Zone, the idea behind “demo and rebuild” is for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fund demolition of a building.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program would then step in with grant funding to build a new foundation and help place a modular home on that foundation in accordance with a community’s floodplain ordinance,’ according to Lisko.
“What it does is it puts the person into a safer situation, but it does not take it (the property) off the tax rolls. They would still live in the same area. They would still have community taxes and the community does not, in a sense, deteriorate its tax base,” Lisko said.
It’s only one option, he noted, “One of the things we don’t know are how the people are going to feel about their options.”
A series of public meetings on all the options, which also include stand-alone elevation of structures, relocation of structures to outside floodplains and full acquisition and demolition of properties, begins Tuesday night.
The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday night, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at Clendenin City Hall in Kanawha County. The public meetings continue Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. at Elkview Middle School in Elkview and Thursday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. at Alderson City Hall.
Additional meeting times and locations are as follows:
Sept. 19
Roane County
Geary Elementary-Middle School, 9538 Clay Rd., Left Hand
6 p.m.
Sept. 27
Pocahontas County
Marlinton Town Hall, 709 2nd Ave
6 p.m.
Sept. 28
Richwood and Nicholas County
Alumni Hall, 103 East Main St., Richwood
6 p.m.
Oct. 3
Greenbrier County
Caldwell, White Sulphur Springs, Ronceverte
Location, Time TBD
Oct. 4
Greenbrier County
Charmco, Rupert, Rainelle
Location, Time TBD
Decisions on mitigation methods will be made at the local levels, with applications coming from incorporated areas or county levels for those in unincorporated locations using input from residents.
“The idea is that this is a program where each community has the opportunity to look at their options, to decide what they feel is best and to apply for the funding and then, hopefully, we’ll have enough funding to cover everyone’s desires and wishes,” Lisko said.
“If not, then we have to do a prioritization process here at the state before submitting them to FEMA for final approval.”
Lisko could only estimate the potential funding available through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which is aimed at reducing future flooding, would amount to “several millions of dollars.” The amount will be a percentage of total federal grants awarded for the June flood, and that number has not been finalized.
“They’re going to have to look at their situation,” Lisko said of the questions residents trying to rebuild will have to answer.
“For example, if you’re a family and you were flooded and you’re very frightened to live where you lived, would you accept a demolition and rebuild at the same location? Or would you simply say, ‘No, I don’t want to live there anymore?'”