RICHWOOD, W.Va. — It’s been a transition for Richwood in the 10 years since historic flooding brought the town to a standstill.
Now mayor, Gary Johnson remembers the rain better than anything about June 23, 2016.
“It just rained and rained and rained,” he said. “And then all of a sudden, you couldn’t go anywhere because water was coming down all the roads that went down the hillsides and blocking one end of town from the other.”
It’s been a slow process getting the city back to normal after the events of that day, Johnson said.
“Overall, our people are very resilient,” he said. “Everyone has worked very hard together to try and come back from this thing. Everybody has pitched in.”
Richwood, the small town in Nicholas County historically known for its lumber and coal production, is in the early stages of a renaissance. In his sixth year as mayor, Johnson said some of that is in response to the disastrous flood of 2016.
“After 10 years, we’ve improved our infrastructure,” he said. “Our wastewater treatment plant was damaged. We got the money to replace it, and we’re just starting that process this summer to get it replaced.”
He described the major change for the city as focusing more on tourism – seeing a rapid return in restaurants and a rise in Airbnb rentals while utilizing Richwood’s proximity to the Monongahela National Forest.
“It’s the basis for our economy now,” Johnson said.
Creating a tourism economy required change – like improving sewer lines. The hope is that improvements in the infrastructure can help the town avoid a repeat of 2016.
“When you have experience doing something, the second time around is not as hard,” Johnson said.
Flooding in Richwood was significant in 2016. The loss of the building that housed Richwood Middle School and Richwood High School led to nearly a decade of students attending school in portable buildings outside of town.
That changed last year when a new school opened, constructed around Cherry River Elementary. Adding the school back was important for the town in many ways, though Johnson noted it also brought some critical people back into the town’s economy.
“Our school re-opened, which put so many people back into our economy when you talk about teachers, janitors and bus drivers,” Johnson said. “It’s a beautiful school. We’re very proud of it now.”
Working with federal agencies and state agencies – at times with the added wrinkles caused by COVID-19 – was all part of a tedious, difficult process. This wasn’t just true in the story of rebuilding Richwood High School. It was a common theme of the last decade in the region, where not every school has yet been rebuilt in the wake of 2016.
“We were working with so many agencies,” Johnson said. “It was very, very difficult to get everything straightened out and figure who you had to talk to about what.”
Heavy rain still might make folks a bit nervous in Richwood – it does for Johnson.
“Just like [Monday], we had severe thunderstorms. Every time we have a severe thunderstorm, you get a little wary,” Johnson said.
He does note they are better prepared should a severe weather event come round again.
“I think we’ve learned a lot since 2016.”
None of that means every problem is solved, but Johnson can point to the town’s resilient renaissance for hope.
“It’s not easy, but it seems to be working.”