McDowell county leaders provide recovery information, unveil 24/7 help line
WELCH, WV (WVNS) – Public officials gathered together in Welch on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, to provide some crucial information about flood relief efforts.
We got some more sad news today as officials confirmed the second and third fatalities as a result of the flooding.
We also learned that the West Virginia National Guard is officially boots on the ground in Welch, they will be helping out with anything they can.
Warming centers, supply distribution open up across southern West Virginia
Nearly 2200 people across the county are without water in their homes. There is no timeline yet for when those repairs will begin.
The Superintendent of McDowell County Schools confirmed that the schools in the county will remain closed indefinitely. She added that it is still unclear whether or not the students will be able to return in-person at all this year, but they will do their best to adapt to the challenges and help their students matriculate to the next grade.
One firefighter dies, another injured, while responding to McDowell County house fire
They have also opened up a new help line, that will be staffed around the clock. Anyone who needs assistance in McDowell County can call the helpline, and anyone who wants to make a donation can call the number as well.
The helpline phone number is (888) 929-4966.
'If it's a life-threatening event please call 911,' said Delegate David Green, who represents McDowell County. 'But if it is a situation where you are needing aid, you're needing help, whether it's running out of medications, you need to get to a critical doctor's appointment and you're not able to get there, this is the number for you to call. If you're needing help and you're not having heat in your home, any of those different types of things, call this number. Again, it will be staffed 24/7.'
Officials also confirmed that they have been in contact with Governor Patrick Morrisey about applying for FEMA disaster relief funding. But before they get approval for that they need people to fill out a survey on how much damage they've sustained.
You can find that survey online at EMD.WV.GOV/DISASTERSURVEY, if you can't get online to fill that survey out, you can pick up hard copy forms at any of the shelters set up around the county.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Apalachicola officials stress patience amid water quality challenges
APALACHICOLA, Fla. (WMBB) – City officials say they're making progress on fixing the town's water quality issues. Residents have reported odorous and discolored water in their faucets since last fall. 'It smells like sewage. It's bad,' Apalachicola resident Elizabeth Russell said. 'Soon as I'm out of that shower, my whole back burns.' For some business owners, the water issues are already affecting business. At the Half Shell Dockside Bar and Grill, customers can only receive bottled water and canned sodas. They're hoping the city-wide water problem doesn't affect the restaurant's reputation. Local governments react to push in legislation to prevent FEMA claw-backs 'We've had to put out a post saying, like, it's just as unfortunate for us as it is for our guests. That, please don't fault us for the smell. Don't let it discourage you from coming in and sharing your business and dining with us,' social media manager Sierra Proctor said. Water and sewage field crew supervisor Rhett Butler says the issue started after Hurricane Helene destroyed an odor scrubber aeration system. 'During Hurricane Helene, we think that the structure got damaged from the winds and everything and made it look, made it worse off, and then it crashed,' Butler said. On Monday, the city confirmed a new odor scrubber is being fabricated and is expected to be completed in early July. They say the water is safe to consume. 'I know it's a hassle for everybody. It's a hassle for me. And nobody's more hurt about it than I am because I worked hard to get us back to where we need to be with the water system and everything,' Butler said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Hawaiʻi goes from 3rd worst to 3rd best: Check this out
HONOLULU (KHON2) — We recently learned that Hawaiʻi has the third-worst economy in the United States, but a new report shows us a different side of the state. Hawaiʻi has been ranked the third most prepared state for natural disasters in the United States. That's according to the new 2025 data study. Only Vermont and Massachusetts ranked higher. 7 things to know now that Hawaiʻi's in hurricane season This list looked at 14 measures that included emergency planning, disaster funding and how well a community can bounce back. The report used numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, FEMA and other government sources. Hawaiʻi earned high marks for its disaster prevention plans and funding. It also ranked well in disaster risk and recovery. Out of 50 states, Hawaiʻi placed sixth for its planning and seventh for disaster risk and lasting damage. For resilience and support systems, Hawaiʻi ranked 22nd. Hurricane season is approaching. These tips can save your family These scores show that Hawaiʻi has invested in strong disaster plans and has support in place for when something goes wrong. With hurricanes, floods and other disasters always a threat, being prepared ranking is based on a comprehensive evaluation of various factors that contribute to disaster preparedness. Hawaiʻi's high position reflects its efforts in areas such as infrastructure, planning and community resilience. Several elements have contributed to Hawaiʻi's strong preparedness ranking, according to the report: Resilience infrastructure and support capacity: Hawaiʻi has invested in building robust infrastructure and support systems to withstand and recover from disasters. Disaster prevention planning and funding: The state has developed and funded comprehensive disaster prevention plans to mitigate risks. Disaster risk and lasting damage: Hawaiʻi has implemented strategies to reduce disaster risks and minimize long-term damage. You can click to read the full report. While Hawaiʻi's ranking is commendable, ongoing efforts are essential to maintain and enhance disaster preparedness. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 Continuous evaluation and improvement of strategies ensure the state remains resilient in the face of future challenges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Governor Stein, state leaders prepare for hurricane season amid uncertainty of federal help
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Hurricane preparedness is long underway in North Carolina. '[We're] conducting statewide exercises to test our communication systems, performing readiness checks, and making improvements based on any gaps that we find,' Governor Josh Stein said in a hurricane preparedness update on Thursday. 'We're already taking action on identified areas for improvement in the wake of Helene,' Will Ray, the Director of Emergency Management, said. But it's more challenging this year than ever before. Governor Stein and other state emergency management leaders say uncertainty surrounding the futures of federal agencies like FEMA, NOAA, and the National Weather Service are front of mind. 'I think that we all have reason to be worried, there are cuts happening at the federal government that are going to impact the quality of services that affect people's lives,' the Governor said. The state is still spending hundreds of millions of dollars on recovery in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. So, how prepared is the state financially for another major storm? 'That is an issue that is being negotiated between the two branches of the legislature right now. How big is our rainy day fund?' Governor Stein said. 'In my budget, I had proposed adding $500m to that to build it up a little bit in the eventuality of future hurricanes.' Governor Stein says the state needs to be ready to be self-reliant and not dependent on help from the federal government. 'Even if you dramatically restructure FEMA and have this federal government step away from helping states that are hit, there's going to be a real financial consequence to each state that's impacted and we need to budget accordingly,' he said. And for people at home, state leaders are offering the same tips they do every year: make sure you have an emergency kit on hand before a storm hits your area with water, medication, and non-perishable food. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
