6:00: Morning News

West Virginia VOAD dedicates new home to Clendenin family

CLENDENIN W.Va. — West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster dedicated a Clendenin home on Wednesday to a family whose home was a total loss due to the June 2016 flood.

“The ceremony today was very touching,” West Virginia VOAD Executive Director Jenny Gannaway said. “It was very uplifting but it brought tears to your eyes as well knowing that you can be a part of something so good.”

“It’s always a great feeling when you get another family recovered and back into a safe house.”

The family that had the new house dedicated to them had to be rescued during the flood in 2016 by boat. The entire first floor of their old home was submerged by water from Big Sandy Creek.

“It was very emotional for the family,” Gannaway said. “They were happy but also emotional that finally they can put behind them, probably one of the most tragic days of their life.”

Since then, the family used part of their money from FEMA to live in a camper type trailer on the property. The new house is on the same property but according to Gannaway, 50 or 60 feet back away from the flood zone of the creek.

West Virginia VOAD has been working with the family for over a year on this home.

“People can either come to us by calling us and requesting us for help,” Gannaway said. “We may get names from our state or county officials or from the FEMA data that was given to us.”

Gannaway added that West Virginia VOAD has now recovered 1,716 homes in 12 counties across the state with a little over $33 million in services provided to families. They have also partnered with Ashley Furniture to help provide some furniture to homes recovered.

“We have completed a lot of recovery across our state but we still have a lot of recovery that we need to do,” Gannaway said. “We try to prioritize and pick the vulnerable population and people with the most needs, first.”





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