WESTON, W.Va. — Flood relief efforts in Lewis County took two major steps forward Monday.
Community members learned of new emergency funding to assist in the relocation of the Robert Bland Middle School and to address damaged infrastructure in Weston.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey and lawmakers announced $400,000 will be used to help relocate 400 middle school students to WVU’s Jackson’s Mill this school year rather than spend the year on virtual education. Morrissey told residents the investment will prevent students from having to return to pandemic-era learning.
“We’re fronting that $400,000 from the governor’s civil contingency fund so Lewis County Schools can temporarily relocate the middle school to WVU’s Jackson’s Mill,” Morrisey said.
Lewis County School Superintendent Carolyn Long thanked the governor and said they are still developing district-wide plans for the new school year. She said the students will play sports and they will work hard in the classroom.
“At this point we’re not sure how much damage the last rains did to the fields; if nothing else, we’ll play all of our games away,” Long said. “Our students are going to play football, they’re going to run track, and they’re going to study hard.”
Floodwaters from the West Fork River did not make it into the Bland Middle School building but it did do damage underneath the building that will have to cleared out.
Del. Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis, said Morrisey has been very responsive to their needs since the July 21 storm. He also delivered a check that will help Weston continue its recovery.
“I’m able to deliver $126,000 to the city of Weston from our Local Economic Development Assistance Fund that is going to go to rebuilding necessary infrastructure throughout the city and supporting our vital first responders who we know are critical,” Burkhammer said at Monday’s ceremony.
Workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are now in place helping residents impacted by flooding. Morrissey said the state Division of Highways has removed more than 150,000 tons, and National Guard members have removed about 18,000 tons of flood debris from the area.
“We’re excited that we have the feds that are working closely with state and local agencies,” Morrisey said. “We know there are about 300 open cases, and they are serving 819 people impacted by the floods.”
Brig. Gen. Patrick Chard, director of the Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters of the West Virginia National Guard, said forces will remain in place as long as the governor keeps the troops in place.
“The West Virginia National Guard will remain here in both counties at the governor’s direction to continue operations as long as needed,” Chard said. “The West Virginia National Guard remains always ready and always there.”