WINIFREDE, W.Va. — Nearly three years after a devastating flash flood in eastern Kanawha County wiped out a firefighting substation, a positive stride forward has been made.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey, firefighters, as well as local, state, and federal officials gathered Thursday morning to break ground on the new Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department substation in Winifrede. The project costs $2.9 million and is primarily funded by FEMA through disaster relief money.
Chesapeake VFD Chief Jeremy Hamilton said he was grateful the groundbreaking day finally arrived.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents much more than the start of construction,” Hamilton said. “It represents hope, resilience, and the strength of a community.”
In the three years since the flood, the Chesapeake fire crews have operated out of a carport. Morrisey recognized the firefighters for their dedication to the community, despite not having access to a home facility.
“We know that there have been some long years,” Morrisey said. “Through the freezing winters, the scorching summers, operating out of, basically, an open-and-closed closet, right? That’s pretty unbelievable.”
Chesapeake VFD serves the communities along Interstate-77 from the Chelyan exit to the Marmet exit. Morrisey commended the bravery that the department displayed the day of the flood.
“When the skies turned dark, and the waters rose, the men and women of the Chesapeake Fire Department, they didn’t wait for the storm to pass,” Morrisey said. “They ran straight into it.”
Hamilton said it’s been a trying stretch, but the community has rallied around the department and given it their full support.
“Following the devastating August 2023 flood, we faced a difficult reality of losing our Winifrede substation,” Hamilton said. “While the damage was overwhelming, the support that we received from our local community, neighboring fire departments, elected officials, emergency management agencies, and countless individuals, remind us that we’re not facing this challenge alone.”
Charleston Fire Department Captain David Hodges responded to the Winifrede community during the flood. He attended the groundbreaking ceremony and noted how far the department has come since that devastating day.
“It was just total destruction,” Hodges remembered. “It’s definitely showed signs of resilience, and the way we can overcome things as true West Virginians.”
FEMA had pledged $1.6 million for the project, then increased that total to $2 million after completing a legal review. The state of West Virginia had provided some temporary bridge funding to make sure that construction on the substation was not delayed.
Now that FEMA has increased its contributions, Morrisey said the state will no longer need to provide that temporary bridge money. However, the state is chipping in $689,000 for the project. Kanawha County and Chesapeake Fire Department also provided funding for the substation.
Hodges underscored the importance of Chesapeake and other volunteer fire crews.
“Volunteer fire departments play a crucial role in ensuring public safety and emergency response in rural areas where professional firefighting services may be limited or nonexistent,” Hodges said. “These departments rely heavily on the dedication and commitment of community members who volunteer their time and expertise to serve as firefighters, EMTs, and rescue personnel.”
Officials said construction will begin soon on the new substation. The facility is expected to become fully operational by next year.
“While today (Thursday) marks the beginning of construction, it also marks the continuation of our commitment to the people we serve,” Hamilton said. “The new substation will stand as a symbol of resilience, preparedness, and unwavering spirit of our community for generations to come.”