WESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey held a flood recovery press event in Weston Wednesday, where he praised the speed of the effort to date but yet urged residents in the flood zone to have patience.
The Shop & Save Express was reopened Tuesday following the flood and has been serving the community. The governor highlighted the reopening as a testament to the commitment members of the community have to each other, the dedication of the company, and the many state and local organizations and companies that have pulled together.
“That’s because West Virginians stepped up to help out,” Morrisey said. “We know it’s unacceptable not to have a grocery store here where there is such significant need, so I want to commend what Shop & Save Express did.”
The West Virginia National Guard contingent has been on the ground since the evening of the flood, and their mission could extend to months rather than weeks. State Adjutant General Jim Seward thanked the employers and families of the soldiers as the cleanup and recovery mission continues.
“I want to thank their employers and their families,” Seward said. “Many of these troops came from other areas of the state, and their employers said ‘go,’ and their families said ‘go.'”
The cleanup operation has progressed to the point that some repairs and/or reconstruction can begin. Morrisey urged any organization with expertise in construction to consider coordinating with local officials and mobilizing to the area.
“Right now, in Upshur and Lewis we need volunteers; we need construction volunteers to help in a lot of different ways. There’s a lot of work that has to be done,” Morrisey said.
In both Weston and Buckhannon, debris removed from flooded-out homes ready to be picked up lines the streets. Soldiers and their vehicles can be seen all over the two-county area helping in a variety of ways—especially the removal of flood debris.
“We’ve removed about 6,000 tons of debris from Lewis and Upshur Counties,” Seward said. “I expect that number will be well over 20,000 tons when we are done.”
The governor had strong words for anyone who might plan to come to the area to take advantage of the flood victims. Morrisey asked residents to watch out for each other, report anything that may seem suspicious, ask for identification, and not be rushed into any repair arrangement.
“We want to make sure we send a message to all the would-be looters and criminals that we are not going to tolerate you taking advantage of our people during this time.”