WHARTON, W.Va. — Boone County authorities say more than 120 homes were impacted across their county by high water. County Emergency Services manager Michael Mayhorn said they are counting the number of disaster forms filled out by flood victims to base the numbers.
“In some way or some fashion, 120 plus places around the county, not just to Wharton or Van, were impacted in some way,” he explained.
The work to clean up those homes damaged is underway. The Division of Highways is also working around the clock to restore washed out and damaged roads in the region.
“We have an estimate from the state they had maybe 10 places destroyed and about that many more with major damage. The rest are just affected in some way,” said Mayhorn.
He encouraged victims to go to the website and fill out their damage assessment survey if they had any level of damage. It can be found www.boonewv.com.
“That reports to us, reports to the state, and reports to FEMA all at the same time,” Mayhorn said.
Those who are unable to access the internet or elderly folks who don’t understand the procedure can call 2-1-1 and volunteers are standing by to assist with the reporting process.
The communities along Route 85 from Van through Wharton had the most damage. Mayhorn said however several homes along Route 17 on the other side of the county also had damage, but not as significant. However, about five homes in the area near the Logan County line were damaged and one was destroyed.
The volunteer fire departments in Van and Wharton are the collection point and the distribution point for flood relief supplies. Mayhorn said what they needed most were non-bleach cleaning products like Lysol and hand sanitizer. There is also a great need for rubber gloves, squeegees, and shovels. Officials say they are trying to track down as much lime as they can find as well.
An organization called Team Rubicon which is a national organization which responds to disasters all over will send about 15 volunteers into Boone County today. They’re expected to help people muck out homes and help get debris pilled up at the road’s edge. They’ll be in Boone County through Friday.
“They’ll help people muck out their homes and underneath it and help people get debris to the side of the roads and things like that,” he said.
The West Virginia National Guard will soon be in the area picking up the debris. A contractor is staging a site to collect that debris in preparation for taking it to the landfill.