WESTON, W.Va. — Damage surveys completed so far in Lewis County are showing the extent of damage across the area.
Lewis County Office of Emergency Management Acting Director H. Keith Talbert said Monday they’ve totaled the numbers using site visits and surveys completed by property owners through the state Office of Emergency Management (OEM) system.
“Completely damaged homes are in the high 40s, about 47 or 48 houses that have been completely destroyed,” Talbert said. “The homes that suffered major damage is around 185 or 187.”
More than 200 residences had some sort of water intrusion and also required repairs.
“There’s also structures that were affected—water that got into the garage or the basement was quite a bit higher—I believe well over 200,” Talbert said.
Talbert said they have identified a spot for workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to operate from when and if President Donald Trump approves the federal disaster declaration request. He said they have some cleaning supplies and water stored at the Market Place Mall site and are looking for another facility to store building materials and furniture.
“We need a drop site where people can donate furniture, bedding, and construction equipment,” Talbert said. “We’re looking for a site or a warehouse we can do that in so people can come and get plywood, 2 x 4s, insulation, or anything people want to donate.”
Talbert said there are six families who suffered extensive damage to the point they have no place to go. A national company has agreed to provide living spaces for six of those families for the next 30 days.
“A national company donated six of their properties to these families to at least give them a place to rest until they can work on insurance or other means to find a future home,” Talbert said.
Talbert said the average time for a federal disaster declaration to be approved is about 30 days. He said the federal disaster declaration for Ohio County after last summer’s flash flood was received 38 days after the request.
“Hopeful is hopeful, but if we get to 30 days and it’s not here, I might start worrying,” Talbert said. “We wanted it today and yesterday, and we wanted it last week, but I think realistically I think we’re in a good time frame.”