Crews assessing damage after massive storms caused major flooding in West Virginia

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

Perilous Times and Climate Change

Monday June 14, 2010

Crews assessing damage after massive storms caused major flooding in West Virginia

by The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As new storms rolled in, crews Monday assessed the wreckage left by weekend storms that caused major flooding in four southern West Virginia counties, damaged at least 475 homes and businesses and left some areas inaccessible by vehicle.

Gov. Joe Manchin declared a state of emergency Sunday in Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties. No deaths were reported in the storms that dumped more than 4 inches of rain in some areas.

The flooding occurred in many of the same areas that were devastated by floodwaters in May 2009.

In Logan County, the damage seemed to be worse this time, said county Emergency Services Director Roger Bryant.

"There's just a lot of mudslides throughout the county,'' Bryant said. Some went through the walls of homes and knocked one church off its foundation, he said.

Gilbert High School in McDowell County hadn't flooded in 26 years after it opened in 1982. Since May 2009, it's happened twice.

A gymnasium floor that had to be replaced a year ago buckled again and will have to be tossed out once more. But floodwaters that soaked the entire first floor last year only reached four classrooms over the weekend, assistant principal Mark Dean said.

"It's not near as bad as it was last time,'' Dean said. "There's no mud to shovel.''

There's still a lot of cleaning and sanitizing to do and Dean expects that to be done by week's end.

The storms didn't do as much damage in Wyoming County compared to last year, either. But "the people are more devastated because it happened so soon'' after the 2009 floods, said Dean Meadows, Wyoming County's emergency services director.

Damage assessments poured in as more thunderstorms passed through the region Monday, although no new flash flood warnings were immediately issued.

The state will use the damage assessments to try to secure federal disaster declarations that could provide millions in aid to help residents and businesses recover.

Preliminary assessments show 255 homes and businesses were damaged in Logan County, 150 in Mingo County and 74 in Wyoming County. No estimates were immediately available for McDowell County. Official assessments will be conducted this week that will provide a more accurate count.

The National Guard has 15 troops in the four counties and anticipates sending in more once it is determined where they are needed.

"They are waiting for the waters to recede so they can further assess the damage and see what needs to be done,'' spokeswoman Anna-Marie Hizer said Monday.

The American Red Cross also is waiting for floodwaters to recede in some areas before it's able to send in help, spokeswoman Sheri McGraw said.

The Red Cross has been asked to provide 500 cleanup kits in Logan County, which appears to be the hardest hit of the four counties, McGraw said.

Bryant said the Shamrock and Holden areas had extensive damage, and McGraw said an area from Madison Creek to Man was blocked off to traffic.

Washed-out bridges in Wyoming County have cut off access to a few dozen homes, and the Davy, Premier and Hemphill areas of McDowell County remain inaccessible, McGraw said.

The Red Cross has been asked to provide about 480 meals, 100 blankets and cots, and water and cleanup kits in McDowell County, she said.

The Red Cross had one shelter open each in Logan and McDowell counties housing a total of 12 people, but McGraw said a shelter at a church in Welch was threatened by high water and may have to be moved.