Local News

Capito discusses federal flood funding in Upshur

BUCKHANNON -- U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito came to Upshur County Monday to discuss with local leaders the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to the deadly July 21 flooding, as well as the future of Lewis County’s middle school.

On Monday, Capito. R-W.Va., attended meetings with the Upshur County and Lewis County commissioners, as well as with Region VII Planning & Development Council leaders, to discuss ongoing flood recovery efforts.

Both Upshur and Lewis counties suffered devastating flooding in July, with two confirmed deaths in Upshur County. In total, 33 homes were destroyed in the two counties, with 91 other homes experiencing major damage, 235 homes with minor damage and 182 otherwise impacted.

The meetings took place at the Outpost Event Center in Buckhannon.

“I wanted to come by in Lewis and Upshur County and talk with the commissioners and Region VII Economic Development to see where we are, is FEMA responding as they should be,” Capito told members of the media between the Monday meetings in Buckhannon. “FEMA has actually been on the ground (since) day one, practically. A lot of people have already gotten their individual assistance. We want to make sure that, in some ways, public assistance for some of the buildings and businesses is flowing.”

Capito admitted “there are still hiccups,” as some flooding victims still cannot access their homes, there are still homes that need properly cleaned out and sanitized, and overall, there are still areas of “great need.” She said she was most impressed with how the community has stepped up since the day of the flood. Capito explained she and the Region VII leaders would also be discussing economic development in the area, as well as broadband services.

Recently, Upshur County Commissioner Kristie Tenney told WAJR's “Talk of the Town” that victims in the two counties have received a total $16.5 million from FEMA to support more than 1,700 valid applications. Tenney noted FEMA was still reviewing applications, though the deadline to submit an application, which had been extended by two weeks, has since passed.

Lewis County Commission President Agnes Queen told members of the media on Monday that flooding victims could still apply for FEMA aid if they had extenuating circumstances. Capito and Queen both noted that FEMA is still providing housing aid for around 106 displaced people in Lewis County alone.

When asked by The Inter-Mountain if she was happy with the amount of funding FEMA has already given, Capito said she thinks officials “need to meet the need.” She is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over FEMA’s budget.

“What I’m hearing now, still, is there’s more need coming in,” Capito told The Inter-Mountain. “More people are feeling that they’re not… They haven’t filed a claim or they haven’t moved forward in the process. So, the fact that FEMA is still on the ground, hearing these and getting more applications, means we’ll have more money coming in.”

After the meetings, Capito visited the Lewis County Board of Education to discuss Robert L. Bland Middle School, which has been closed this school year due to the flood damage. Middle school students have instead been attending classes at Jackson’s Mill. Capito said she understood Robert L. Bland Middle School was built in the 1970s in the flood plane, and her main concern was what was the best way they could serve the students. She acknowledged students’ needs were being met at Jackson’s Mill, but this is a “temporary situation.”

Capito told the Region VII leaders during their meeting she was really worried about Robert L. Bland Middle School based on similar instances in other counties where it took too long to reopen or rebuild a school. She questioned whether or not the school should be rebuilt in a different location, away from the flood plane.

When asked what message she had for West Virginians who may still be struggling from the flood damage three months later, Capito said they should contact their County Commission, FEMA, and/or her office “to make sure their rights to relief are being met.”

“There’s still need out there and there’s still some folks who can’t get back in their original homes,” Capito told The Inter-Mountain. “We need to make sure we can get them back and up and running. Most of business, I would say a greater number of the businesses, have reopened. Which is good, but now a lot of it is individual homes and houses… so we want to make sure they’re taken care of.”