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It might be easy to assume that, as we approach the marking of one month since the deadly July 21 flooding, things are more-or-less back to normal in our area.
People whose homes and property were damaged by the raging waters would be quick to tell you that is a false assumption, however.
It’s heartening to see that the state government recognizes that the clean-up and recovery will be a long-term process. On Friday morning, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that the State of Emergency he declared for all of West Virginia during the flooding will be extended another month in 12 counties -- including Upshur, Barbour, Randolph and Tucker.
Local officials in the affected counties requested the extension, according to Morrisey’s office.
“Keeping the State of Emergency in place provides state and local officials with additional flexibility to respond quickly to recovery needs and provide communities with the assistance they need,” a governor’s office press release stated.
The extension allows state and local agencies to continue coordinating personnel, equipment and other resources necessary to support relief and recovery operations in the affected counties.
This was a devastating natural disaster. Two Upshur residents lost their lives in the flooding. 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.
While the West Virginia Army National Guard and the state Division of Highways have worked tirelessly to help Upshur County residents remove flood debris from our communities, it’s good to know that our state government isn’t trying to sweep the repercussions of the flooding under the proverbial rug.