CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin is urging residents to fill out damage surveys in connection with the flood that occurred Sunday night.
Goodwin said those surveys are needed to get both flood victims and the city the help it needs.
“It is a way that we can start building a case. You are helping, not only yourself with your own insurance, but helping us for federal funds, state funds and the continuation of assistance,” Goodwin said Wednesday.
Charleston received more than four inches of rain Sunday. The second highest one day amount since July 19, 1961. Dozens of homes were damaged along Garrison Avenue, Sugar Creek, Wertz Avenue and other areas.
Goodwin said right now the city doesn’t have enough of the damage surveys completed.
“Looking at the numbers on this piece of paper in front of me–we don’t have enough. We know you’re out there,” Goodwin said. “We’ll have someone from our team come to your house and help you fill it out.”
Goodwin, who met with more families Wednesday afternoon, is also encouraging flood victims to dial 211 for assistance.
Public Works Department busy
Charleston Public Works Director Brent Webster said there’s widespread damage on the city-maintained roads in the flood zone.
“It’s a whole gamut of issues that you think you could have when you have water damage. There could be a couple of larger projects that come out of this which take more time,” Webster said. “The big priority now is to make sure roads are passable.”
Webster said in some places sections of the road are washed away. He said more permanent repairs will have to be made in the future.
“When that happens it’s not like it’s a pothole patch. A lot of times you may have to end up bringing in a contractor to pave an area or if the road is compromised you’re talking about heavy equipment,” Webster said.
Flood debris pick-up is also taking place in the city. Webster said crews are running their routes over and over again.
“If they can get it out to the curb then we can come. It’s almost a rinse and repeat. We’ll come through and pick up a load and maybe there’s more and we’ll come back through. That’s going to continue for several days,” Webster said.
Kanawha County flood debris
The Kanawha County Commission announced a general outline Wednesday for flood debris pick-up in the unincorporated areas of the county.
It will begin next Monday on Campbells Creek, Rutledge Road, Cabin Creek, and Cross Lanes and continue through Friday, Sept. 4.
The exact schedule will be released in the coming days. The debris must be placed along the public right-of-way.