State and National Leaders Tour Flood-Damaged Areas - WOWK-TV

GILBERT -- Gov. Joe Manchin, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall II and emergency management officials toured flood-damaged areas Sunday afternoon and met with affected residents in the southern West Virginia counties that were hit by flooding Friday and Saturday.

The Governor spoke at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Gilbert High School.

“Since I have been governor, the damage that was caused by the flash floods and rain is as bad as I have seen anywhere," said Manchin. "The period of bad weather that hit this region, did so with tremendous force and devastation. The state’s main goal is to continue to coordinate with officials from the local, county, and federal level, to help our citizens get their lives back in order in a timely fashion.”

Efforts are being coordinated from agencies including the National Guard, Division of Highways, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the State Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and the State Fire Marshal assisting with rescues and property damage assessment. Mingo County Emergency Management officials have been working to get medical supplies, food and water and other essential items to area residents.

The American Red Cross has assisted with getting citizens necessary resources as well.

Appalachian Power Co. has had crews on site working to restore power to the affected areas.

Water has caused a very substantial amount of damage to roadways, homes and businesses. “We are coordinating to get the water and sewer systems back up and running as soon as possible,” said the governor.

“Infrastructure is a top priority – making sure that our roads are cleared is quickly as possible and making sure that the water and sewage system is working properly. We are also concerned with getting citizens in proper housing.” “We are collaborating and doing everything possible to get assistance to our citizens who’ve been hit by this flooding and its aftermath,” Manchin said.

State officials are currently awaiting assessments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Preliminary Damage Assessment team in order to move forward on receiving a federal disaster declaration. The federal assessments will be taking place starting Monday.

The governor urges citizens to contact their local county emergency services offices to report flood and storm damages to their homes and businesses.

“We want everyone who has been hit by these devastating floods to know that they are not by themselves. Our officials will continue to work as expediently as possible to get these citizens’ lives back to normal,” said the governor.