CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two state senators are asking for changes with the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding so lawmakers can better address communities impacted by the June 2016 flood.
Sens. Stephen Baldwin, D-Greenbrier, and Glenn Jeffries, D-Putnam, sent a letter to committee leaders last week about common concerns from constituents and how the committee can address the issues.
“The Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding is statutorily charged with studying flood damage reduction and floodplain management,” Baldwin and Jeffries said in the Sept. 18 letter. “It is our duty to make recommendations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance of initiatives to reduce the threat of future loss of life and property associated with flooding.”
The senators noted multiple recommendations including holding public hearings and committee meetings in areas affected by flooding, tracking funding for dilapidated buildings and meeting at least once a month to serve as a hub for communication.
Baldwin and Jeffries added they want to hold meetings with various agencies, including the state Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, about steps to take to prevent future flooding and improving handling projects.
The legislative committee met Tuesday, in which state Adjutant General James Hoyer and state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Mike Todorovich provided an update on the RISE West Virginia program.