19-02-2025
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 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.
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