CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Governor Patrick Morrisey has announced two new flood mitigation studies aimed at developing long-term strategies to reduce future flood damage in some of West Virginia’s most vulnerable regions.
Backed by a combined $6 million in state and federal funding, the initiatives will focus on the Upper Guyandotte River and the Kanawha River Basin.
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“We know all too well the dangers that floods pose to West Virginia,” said Governor Morrisey.
“These disasters have disrupted lives, damaged infrastructure, and devastated entire communities. With these new initiatives, we are investing in data-driven, long-term solutions that will help us better protect our people and prepare our state for challenges ahead.”
The Upper Guyandotte Flood Study will be led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the State of West Virginia.
It will focus on the Wyoming County communities of Mullens, Pineville, and Oceana—areas ranked among the highest in the state for cumulative flood risk.
More than 30% of the county’s population lives in the floodplain.
The $3 million study will be jointly funded, with the state and federal government each contributing $1.5 million.
The Kanawha River Basin Feasibility Study, also in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will assess flood risk management strategies across 20 counties, including 14 that were directly affected by the June 2016 floods.
The $3 million in funding will be split equally between the federal and state governments.
Projects that serve economically disadvantaged communities will be eligible for a reduced state cost share of just 10%.
Both studies cover portions of nine of the twelve counties that received disaster declarations following the February 2025 floods.
Coordination with the West Virginia State Resiliency Office will ensure the findings are incorporated into broader state mitigation and preparedness efforts.
