Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval  Watch |  Listen

State of emergency ends in W.Va.

CLENDENIN, W.Va. — Four months after Governor Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency hours after the June 23rd flood, the emergency is over.   The state of emergency expired Friday in Kanawha, Clay, Greenbrier, Webster, and Nicholas Counties.  However, despite the State of Emergency ending, the recovery isn’t over.

“It’s been a significant situation for the individuals affected,” said Kanawha County Manager Jennifer Sayre. “It’s certainly been a serious situation for them to deal with and continue to deal with.”

Although the flood waters are long gone, the damage is still very evident in many communities.   Sayre and her counterparts in the other flood zone counties continue to work with victims on a number of long term recovery programs.  The Private Property Debris Removal program is still being administered.  The National Guard is working on the program to remove debris from private property after an assessment funded through FEMA.   Officials are continuing to look for grants to help with public infrastructure restoration.  Long term hazard mitigation funds are also available from FEMA on a separate program to either buyout and demolish flooded properties or retrofit them to survive the next flood.

“Even if the governor stands down the State of Emergency, we’re still in the area and still helping the community with the recovery effort,” Sayre said. “It’s going to be a long process.  Some of them are working as they can on their homes and some don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to rebuilding their homes so they’re doing it in the evenings and on weekends.  It could take months.”

Winter is coming on quickly and many are still working to rebuild after the disaster.  Sayre said from what she can tell in Kanawha County all flood victims displaced by the high water have at least found temporary shelter with family or in an apartment or temporary trailer provided by FEMA.

The governor’s State of Emergency cleared away red tape to allow state agencies to respond rapidly to evolving situations after the flood.  The recovery has reached the point it’s no longer necessary, but by no means is the recovery over especially for those who lost everything.

“It won’t be over quickly,” Sayre said. “The county commission and our offices will continue to help those affected by this flood and do anything we can to help the community.”





More News

News
Lottery reports $50,000 Powerball ticket sold in Charleston
Four numbers and Power Ball matched.
March 28, 2024 - 10:24 am
News
MetroNews This Morning 3-28-24
Summary of West Virginia news/sports/weather for Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024 - 6:25 am
News
PSC approves settlements involving Mon Power, net-metering cases
Rate increase went into effect Tuesday.
March 27, 2024 - 9:42 pm
News
Speakers at Focus Forward symposium discuss AI capabilities in West Virginia
The event was organized by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
March 27, 2024 - 8:30 pm