CLENDENIN, W.Va. — Residents in the town of Clendenin and all along the Elk River in northern Kanawha County will come together this weekend to remember a tragedy. But it won’t be a memorial, it’s a celebration of the recovery from that disaster. Since the flood of June 23, 2016, the entire region has rebounded even stronger.
“There’s so many businesses coming into town now and that’s a result of a good group of people in there really trying to promote the town,” said Clendenin native Matt Paxton speaking on 580-Live on MetroNews flagship station WCHS Radio.
“It’s so nice to finally be seeing new stuff and stuff that gives you some hope that the town is going to be vibrant and be the attraction it can be,” he added.
It didn’t always look that way. In fact, in the days after the flood it didn’t look like there would be much of anything left. Almost every business in the town was struck by high water along with churches, the town offices, and hundreds and hundreds of homes. Even two of the local schools were so badly damaged they couldn’t be repaired. It’s taken seven years, but the rebuilding is underway and this fall a brand new Herbert Hoover High School will open and progress is being made on a new Bridge-Clendenin Elementary School, both of which now sit high on a hill.
Dedication of the high school is slated for August and will include West Virginia native Brad Paisley, but Clendenin Mayor Kay Summers said a celebration they are calling The Lucky 7 Celebration will happen this weekend to commemorate the flood anniversary.
“Many, many people came from the whole Kanawha Valley, the state, and other states and we appreciated it. So many times you hear about a flood, people send a donation and then forget about it. These folks did not forget about it,” said the Mayor.
Summers said the celebration will include day long activities with live music, food, and activities including a 5K run organized by Paxton. It has been a long recovery and but there is a clear rebirth of the town. Several new businesses have sprung up and a lot of it is building around the Elk River Trail and recreation on the Elk River itself.
Summers said this weekend’s festivities are to celebrate that rebirth and to thank all of those who played a part in making it possible.