CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There’s a new statewide initiative aimed at preparing people and communities to deal with disasters.
The Tygart Valley United Way and United Way of Central West Virginia announced the launch of United We Prepare on Monday. The initiative is nationally funded by Verizon and United Way Worldwide. It focuses on preparing and recovering from disasters, as well as nonprofit coordination.
The initiative will bring two Resiliency Centers to the state, in Fairmont and Charleston, to serve West Virginians in all 55 counties. United We Prepare will also feature preparedness and resiliency workshops, boost communication and training for nonprofits and community organizations, and host a statewide preparedness conference.
United Way of Central West Virginia President and CEO Margaret O’Neal said the launch comes almost ten years after the devastating 2016 flood in the state. 23 people died in the flood, including 15 in Greenbrier County.
“We’re approaching the ten-year anniversary of what is one of the most damaging floods we’ve experienced in West Virginia, so the timing is perfect,” O’Neal said on MetroNews “Midday” on Monday. “We believe, as United Way, this is filling a gap of sorts. We know there are state emergency management, and county emergency management, but sometimes what we’ve found out is that not everyone knows each other.”
The key with United We Prepare is bringing people together, O’Neal said. She said the initiative helps with any type of disaster; it doesn’t have to be weather related. She listed water crises, power and gas outages, and SNAP crises as potential disasters that United We Prepare could address.
“We really hope that we can convene the nonprofit community, along with our state and county preparedness,” O’Neal explained. “Not duplicating any efforts — I think it’s important to say that — but figure out how we can fill the gaps, or better connect everybody, so that when disaster does happen, as we know it eventually will, that we’re all just a little bit better prepared.”
Additionally, figuring out the back end of disasters looms large. O’Neal said United We Prepare will assist people in becoming more resilient after a disaster occurs; to have a plan for lots of different types of disaster.
O’Neal admitted that it’s difficult for people — and the United Way — to understand everything that already exists. She said it’s important to avoid duplication of services but also identify the areas that are lacking.
United We Prepare wouldn’t have been possible without the grant from Verizon, O’Neal said. She said United Way was thrilled to receive Verizon’s investment in much-needed services.
“Because we (West Virginians) are certainly well-versed in disaster and we know what can happen,” O’Neal said. “I think they have an interest in what we develop, and how we can put forth some really positive changes or suggestions to make things a little bit easier when it does happen.”
O’Neal said some counties get flooded regularly, or face poverty — which she says is its own disaster. She said the United Way-powered West Virginia 211 information line, along with 12 United Way locations in the state, ensure that conversations are taking place about disasters.
She noted that it’s especially important to serve the more rural counties of West Virginia.
“Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Randolph, we want to make sure Mingo has some support,” O’Neal said. “So, we really are interested in making sure that places that may have a less strong county organization might be able to use this United We Prepare as a place to really come together and organize in their communities.”
Preparation is key, O’Neal reiterated. She said part of the agreement with Verizon was to promise gatherings in different parts of the state, all with the goal of informing people about what they need to have in disasters. For example, she said, folks must have a copy of their insurance in another location than their house in the event of fire damage.
“Pre-planning and making sure people know what to do when disaster strikes them personally, whatever that is, is so important to us,” O’Neal said. “Because sometimes, people get penalized with opportunity for some monetary something on the back end because they don’t have the documents that they needed on the front end.”
O’Neal mentioned a terrible flood in Marion County around Father’s Day last year. She said the area hadn’t seen a disaster like that before, so the preparedness and response process was far from smooth. She said United We Prepare can help with all that going forward.
O’Neal promised that there will be communication about local meetings discussing disaster preparedness and response. She said participation is extremely important from citizens, along with the nonprofit community. She emphasized that it’s all about advancing the conversation.
Maybe someone comes into the meeting with a flooding experience, O’Neal said, and wants to share the positives and negatives of the community’s response to the disaster.
O’Neal encouraged those who want to set up a gathering or learn more information to reach out to their local United Way.
Learn more at the United We Prepare website.