1/4/2017
On June 24, 2016, West Virginia was devastated by a flash flood, the result of up to 10 inches of rain falling over a period of 12 hours. Twenty-four people lost their lives—the highest death toll from flash floods in the nation during the last five years. West Virginia emergency officials estimated that 1,500 homes were completely destroyed, with some being shoved off their foundations and others simply washed away in the torrents of water. Another 4,000 homes were thought to be damaged. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared 12 counties major disaster areas.
A statement issued by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin captured the tragedy: "As a lifelong resident of Southern West Virginia, I am all too familiar with flooding and how it can devastate a community…But of all the floods I have witnessed in my life, and particularly in my time as governor, I have never seen a tragedy like we have experienced in several of our communities in the past four days. Families have lost everything—homes and loved ones, even children."
Community Works in West Virginia (CWWV), an organization dedicated to creating housing and community development solutions for West Virginians through its network of 27 organizations, immediately went to work to address the long-term goal of rebuilding communities.
"CWWV and our member organizations initiated a vigorous relief project in response to the crisis," said Executive Director Mary Skeens. "Our West Virginia 2016 Flood Relief Project is directed to those 12 counties that FEMA declared as disaster areas."
The disaster areas chosen by FEMA are Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers and Webster counties.
Through a partnership with collaborator Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, CWWV accessed $400,000 of funding to provide low-cost loans to families struggling to rebuild. These funds provide affected households assistance with buying a new house or help with home repairs or replacement.
"Management and the bank board of considered what we could do to provide help for our neighbors in what the National Weather Service called a 'one-in-a-thousand-years' event, " said Patrick A. Bond, founding general partner at Mountaineer Capital in Charleston and chair of the bank board. "We are privileged to make these grants available through our member financial institutions."
NeighborWorks America also provided a $50,000 grant to bring relief to flood victims.
"NeighborWorks America is pleased to provide owner-occupied rehab loans for homeowners whose properties have been severely damaged by the flooding," said Donald Phoenix, southern regional vice president. "These loans are a quick and efficient way for homeowners to access low-cost home improvement loans to make crucial repairs to their homes and properties."