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FEMA funding secured for Clay County football facility

CLAY, W.Va. — A grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will help the Clay County High School football program continue the march to get back on its feet. Flood water from 2016 wiped out all of the team’s equipment.  The generosity of a lot of other teams from across the nation enabled them to field a team only two months after the flood.

When the fall temperature started to drop, it became apparent that the locker rooms and equipment weren’t the only casualties of the 2016 flood.  Principal Melinda Isaacs says the field had also been heavily damaged from under neath.

“There was so much water it damaged all of the drains.  The riverbank began to slip causing the light fixtures to slide and they’re very noticeably leaning toward the river,” she said. “The foundation of the bleachers are also exposed.”

The Clay County Board of Education worked closely with FEMA to apply for funding to make repairs and this week the agency announced $1.4 Million in funding for the project.

“It will put new drainage in, re-sod the field and take care of the lighting that is leaning and shore up the bleachers,” she said. “It will also cover some of the electrical work in the press box that was damaged because it’s underground.”

The money also includes funding to help with continuing development of the school’s new field house and may allow for additional room to be added. However, the work won’t be done in time for this fall.

“In terms of play this fall, we have reseeded the field and have grass growing. It will be play-ready this fall on the current field,” Isaacs explained. “The FEMA money will secure the upgrades needed based on the flood.  That project with start once this season is complete.”





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