Key long-term flood recovery group continues commitment

WHEELING, W.Va. — Catholic Charities West Virginia board of directors president Paula Taylor remembers the first few hours after the devastating flood hit a dozen counties in West Virginia on June 23, 2016.

“I felt overwhelmed and I wasn’t even directly impacted,” Taylor told MetroNews on the second anniversary of the disaster. “Personally, I felt, ‘What can we do to help these people?”

Catholic Charities West Virginia has helped and in a big way. The organization has provided nearly $700,000 to 318 households, helping 1,000 state residents toward recovery. It has teamed with other groups that are part of West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (WV VOAD) as one major component of the long-term flood recovery effort.

“I’ve think we’ve run the gamut–everything from HVAC systems to foundations to driveways,” Taylor said. “You name it and we’ve tried to help with that.”

Taylor remembers Wheeling-Charleston Diocese Bishop Michael Bransfield called for a special collection by each parish almost immediately after the flood hit. She said the giving hasn’t stopped.

After the initial response, Catholic Charities turned to case management, Taylor said.

“We connect with these families and we listen to their needs. If we can’t provide what they need then we can reach out to the other groups and the other agencies to help get them what they need,” Taylor said.

Those with the organization realized early on how they could provide the most impact.

“We knew we couldn’t rush in and be a first responder,” Taylor said. “Catholic Charities knew that we would need to come on the back end and help families put their lives back together.”

There have been many success stories. The organization highlights Roane County residents Nick and Jessica Helmick who along with their three children were living in a 30 x 12 enclosure after their home was destroyed in the flood. Catholic Charities helped get them into a new home by last August.

“They needed help,” Joe Ross, chair of the Roane County Long Term Recovery Group said. “The Roane LTRC was ready and got the family started on the path to recovery. With the help of Catholic Charities and other organizations, we were able to move them into a tiny home while their new home was constructed.”

The organization has also helped purchase and install 25 new HVAC units for flood victims in Clay County. It’s gone after grants that have helped with the funding. Catholic Charities also works in mitigation efforts to make sure residents aren’t rebuilding in the floodplain.

Late last year, Catholic Charities made the decision to keep fully funding its flood management and disaster relief position for another year, Taylor said.

“We made the commitment that we were going to keep this position open for at least another year to make sure we are meeting the needs of these people that still have needs and at the end of this year we’ll make a decision on how long we keep it on board past that,” she said.

The long-term recovery effort has been a joint effort, Taylor points out.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who has helped,” she said. “True to our nature, West Virginia has stepped up to meet the need.”

As Taylor said, she was overwhelmed when she first learned of the flood two years ago. Now she has a different view.

“I feel good. We’ve done a lot of good work but there’s still work to be done,” she said.

The flood claimed 23 lives and caused in excess of $100 million in damages.





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