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The deadly flood in Upshur County on July 21 ranks as one of the worst in West Virginia’s history, reminding many local residents of another natural disaster we experienced more than 40 years ago.
This week, officials announced that, in Upshur and Lewis counties alone, 33 homes were destroyed, with 91 other homes experiencing major damage, 235 with minor damage, and 182 otherwise impacted.
Using FEMA's Individual Households Program Cost Estimator, the initial assistance needs for just these two counties are nearly $4.9 million, officials said.
In Upshur County, around 5 inches of rain fell by 7:26 p.m. July 21, leading to massive flooding. Two days later, it was confirmed that two people lost their lives in the Upshur flooding.
Statewide, Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Pleasants and Ritchie counties experienced severe flooding and storm damage, as well as Upshur and Lewis.
The National Weather Service confirmed that two tornadoes, one in Randolph and one in Barbour, touched down in our local area on July 21. A total of nine tornadoes were confirmed to have taken place throughout the state on that day.
All of this calls to mind another horrible night -- Nov. 4, 1985, when West Virginia experienced what came to be known as the Great Flood of 1985.
More than 13,000 homes and businesses in the state were damaged or destroyed during the 1985 flooding. Damage was estimated at nearly $700 million, making it West Virginia’s costliest flood.
In the aftermath, the flooded area of West Virginia was declared a federal disaster area on Nov. 7, 1985 by then-president Ronald Reagan, and at least 47 West Virginians lost their lives during the tragic events. Federal assistance to the area totaled $285 million overall.
During a network television interview with then-Senator Jay Rockefeller during the clean-up of the 1985 flood, the interviewer spoke about all the damages and loss of property, and wondered why West Virginians were so determined to make renovations and restore their homes, even though flooding might happen again.
"Why would they stay here?" the interviewer asked.
"Because it’s their home," Rockefeller said.
That sense of pride and community is why so many local residents are now working so hard on flood-relief and renovation efforts in Upshur County, and why they are so determined to bring the area back from the flooding. Because this is our home.