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  • A garage lodged against a bridge in Brier Creek, deposited by high water Saturday evening. Two slow-moving storms deluged the area, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Dean Meadows

    flooding

  • Gov. Joe Manchin surveys damage left behind after the flash flooding that took place in Welch early Sunday. AP

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June 15, 2010

RAGING FLOODWATERS

Wyoming and McDowell to start recovery process again

By Mary Catherine Brooks For The Register-Herald

Emergency officials were assessing weekend flood damage across Wyoming County Monday, while asking for donations of drinking water, bleach and other cleaning supplies at the Hanover Volunteer Fire Department for distribution to flood victims.

While two slow-moving storms deluged Wyoming County Saturday, it was the second one that brought the raging floodwaters into homes and businesses, and destroyed at least one church, in the western end for the second time in 13 months.

“The water came up all at once,” explained Corey Toler, a member of the Hanover Volunteer Fire Department.

“It happened about 7 p.m.,” added James Bailey, also a firefighter.

“It’s May 9th all over again,” Toler said.

The same area was hard hit May 9, 2009, by floodwaters, destroying dozens of homes and businesses and canceling classes at Huff Consolidated Elementary and Middle schools for several days. The school was again flooded Saturday evening, with the water tearing down chainlink fencing, damaging playground equipment, and leaving a few inches of muddy water inside a portion of the building.

“It surprised us. We weren’t expecting it to rise as fast as it did,” Toler said of the weekend storm.

Three people were trapped in a truck near Shirley’s Restaurant, in Hanover, when the water came up suddenly Saturday evening. Firemen couldn’t get to them, Bailey said.

“We were stranded here (at the fire station), but a neighbor threw them a rope,” he explained. “And they were able to get out.”

There have been only minor injuries reported thus far, according to Dean Meadows, county Emergency Services director.

It was Sunday morning before rescue crews could get to some areas, Bailey noted, and crews have been checking on residents and structures since that time.

Along W.Va. 97 and 52, mud slides carried huge trees down mountainsides into the roads, into yards and into the Guyandotte River. Crews lined the roadsides Monday, trying to remove those posing the most danger in the face of more rain forecast through Wednesday evening.

Swift moving water still crossed the roads in several locations Monday.

Large chunks of roadway had slipped away in several locations.

Hanover, Brier Creek, Indian Creek, Steeles Hollow, and Welch-Pineville Road were among the hardest hit in the weekend storms, Meadows said.

Preliminary assessments indicate at least 70 homes have been damaged, with five to 10 of those destroyed, Meadows said.

Hanover Free Will Baptist Church was destroyed, Meadows said.

Four businesses have sustained damage.

At least 30 private access bridges, some just recently replaced after the May 9, 2009, flooding, have been destroyed, Meadows noted.

Early Sunday morning, Gov. Joe Manchin declared a state of emergency for Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties due to continuous rainfall.

The governor and state emergency management officials are closely monitoring stream levels and the governor has mobilized the West Virginia National Guard.

The declaration enables the implementation of the state’s Emergency Operations Plan and the activation of the State’s Emergency Operations Center. The state of emergency allows the governor to direct special resources to the affected areas that otherwise would not be available. The declaration remains in effect for 30 days unless extended or rescinded by the governor.

Additionally, Meadows explained, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were expected to tour the area Monday to determine if a federal emergency declaration is warranted.

Toler said the fire department is accepting donations of bleach and water, along with any type of cleaning supplies.

A group from near Dallas, Texas, came into the area Monday to help rebuild houses damaged last year, according to Harry Drake, of the West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy and Workcamps.

“After the flooding this weekend, the plans changed real quick,” Drake said.

Based in Kopperston Presbyterian Church, Drake said as many as 20 more work groups will be in the area this summer to lend a hand.

“I don’t think it’s over,” Bailey said. “We’re supposed to get more rain through Wednesday.”

— E-mail: mcbrooks@register-herald.com

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