HUNDRED, W.Va. — Chipper Goff is well-known in Hundred. He’s a member of town council and the volunteer fire department. He also coaches softball at Hundred High School. Goff is also a flood victim.
His house was one of several dozen wiped out in Hundred and surrounding communities in the July 28 flood that left behind destruction along the U.S. Route 250 corridor in northern West Virginia.
“I’ve seen floods before (on television),” Goff told MetroNews from Hundred Town Hall Tuesday. “My heart always goes out to those victims whenever you see this happening but when it happens to your own hometown it really sets in just how bad something like this really is.”
Volunteers were in Hundred Tuesday helping clean-up debris, mucking out homes and treating mold. Goff said there have been steps taken in recent days to help residents get around on roads damaged in the flood including installation of barriers, better signage and in some cases traffic lights.
Road repairs, stream dredging and temporary housing are top priorities, according to Goff.
“Our little school here, we can’t afford to lose any students and we don’t want to lose any students, anybody from our community. So we’re trying to work quickly to get temporary housing in right now,” Goff said.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin has requested temporary housing in the form of 40 FEMA mobile homes once the area receives a federal disaster declaration.
Goff said it’s important for anyone that needs help with clean-up or repairs to register by calling 1-844-WVFLOOD. He said a ticket will be created and crews sent out.
The flood was highest recorded in the town’s history. Goff said the last time Fish Creek got up that high was 1941 and from old photos it doesn’t appear that flood caused as much devastation.
Goff said he’s trying to stay positive despite the vivid memory of those few scary hours nearly two weeks ago.
“I literally cried and times and I prayed a lot hoping and praying that no one would die on our watch. Roads were giving out, water was too high, telephone poles were down and impassable roads,” he remembered. “It was a terrible, terrible night and I hope that no one would have to live through that terrible event.”
But like many West Virginia flood victims of the past two years, Goff sees a bright side.
“It has brought our town closer together than ever, everyone is helping everyone,” he said.