CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia House of Delegates on Friday morning observed a moment of silence for those who lost their lives due to last week’s flooding.
McDowell County Delegate David Green (R-McDowell) has been on the ground throughout his district assisting in recovery efforts and relayed to his colleagues in the House an update on the situation.
“We’ve had record-setting floodwaters, three feet higher than historic records with countywide damage,” Green said on the House floor. “There was no community in McDowell County that did feel the impact of the flood.”
Green said the greatest loss is four community members, a couple and their two-year-old grandchild, and a firefighter with the Welch Volunteer Fire Department who was responding to a flood-related incident.
The House of Delegates observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the four victims.
Green says the flooding affected communication within the county with phone and internet service being out in multiple areas of the county along with damaged roadways affecting access to the Welch Community Hospital.
According to Green, multiple residents remain stranded as personal access roads and bridges have been washed out.
Multiple homes have also been lost in the flooding, with multiple residents living in emergency shelters throughout the county.
McDowell County Schools remain closed until further notice due to the flooding.
Green thanked the volunteers and first responders who had come from all over to help in the cleanup and donated resources.
