CLENDENIN, W.Va. — In a display of cooperation and goodwill, Gov. Jim Justice, Senate President Mitch Carmichael and House Speaker Tim Armstead gathered to observe the first anniversary of last summer’s devastating West Virginia flooding.
Friday is the one-year anniversary of statewide, fatal flooding.
“You can see, we’re coming back,” said Armstead, R-Kanawha.
He went on to say, “What we want to do is not only remember what has happened over this past year, remember those who we lost, but also to look forward to the future and what we can do to take from this tragedy something positive to build our communities back stronger than they were before.”
The three leaders announced appointments to the new Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding, which is meant to focus on ways to prevent future disasters.
The committee was established through a bill that passed during the regular legislative session. Justice, who had earlier traveled to Richwood to recognize rebuilding efforts, conducted a ceremonial signing of the bill.
Thursday afternoon’s event took place at Clendenin Advent Christian Church in one of the state’s hardest-hit communities.
Recognition of #WVflood anniversary and naming of flood prevention commission https://t.co/XWM0eBZBsY
— Brad McElhinny (@BradMcElhinny) June 22, 2017
Delegates appointed to the committee include Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, Kayla Kessinger, R-Fayette, George “Boogie” Ambler, R-Greenbrier, Stephen Baldwin, D-Greenbrier, and Dana Lynch, D-Webster.
Senators who were appointed include Ed Gaunch, R-Kanawha, Glenn Jeffries, D-Putnam, Ron Miller, D-Greenbrier, Chandler Swope, R-Mercer and Craig Blair, R-Berkeley.
The Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding was established to study activities relating to flood protection. The committee is also meant to determine ways to prevent or reduce the effects of flooding.
The committee is likely to meet for the first time during interim legislative meetings in August and will probably begin with a review of what worked and what didn’t during the past year’s recovery.
The bill also creates the state Resiliency Office under the Department of Commerce. The office’s board will consist of various representatives from state agencies that respond to or work to prevent flooding.
The office will be charged with reviewing the state’s flood protection plan on a regular basis, coordinating flood projects with federal agencies, improving professional management of flood plains and pursuing additional funds and resources to help with disaster prevention and recovery.
The chairman of the resiliency office will report to the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding on at least a quarterly basis.
“All of us wish we would never face another flood like this, but we need to be prepared,” Armstead said.