2016 Flood Story Archives - Page 30 of 30 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Greenbrier Resort Opens Doors to Flood Victims

The Greenbrier Resort is opening its doors to victims devastated by flooding in West Virginia.

In a statement Saturday evening, the resort said it is offering a limited number of rooms and meals to those with no place to go for as long as the resort is closed for business.

Greenbrier owner and CEO Jim Justice said, “We just hope that by providing a good meal and a comfortable and safe place to spend the night that we can help ease the pain just a little to those who are suffering so much from this unbelievable disaster.”

The PGA Tour canceled the Greenbrier Classic scheduled for next month because of the devastating flooding. The tournament had been scheduled for July 7-10.

Carol Holmes Explains Why She's 'West Virginia Tough' in Richwood

Seventy-five-year-old Carol Holmes lives in Nicholas County, one of the counties hit hardest by the downpours that fell on June 23. Several people have died because of the severe weather. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin called the floods “the worst in a century for some parts of the state.” The Associated Press reports that President Obama spoke to Tomblin by phone Saturday to offer federal assistance and condolences to the people of West Virginia.

This is the second time her home has been flooded in the past 20 years. Listen to her explain why she doesn’t want to leave Richwood. She also explains that tough times are nothing new to her family. She also explains why she’s “West Virginia tough.”

President Obama Offers Federal Assistance, Condolences to West Virginia

President Barack Obama is extending his condolences and those of the nation to Governor Earl Ray Tomblin for the lives lost because of flooding.

In a statement, White House spokesman Eric Schultz says Obama spoke by phone to Governor Tomblin on Saturday while returning to Washington, D.C., from Seattle.

Schultz says Obama is committed to ensuring that Tomblin has the federal resources he needs for all recovery efforts.

When the Waters Recede: Photos from Northern Kanawha County

As of Saturday afternoon, 23 fatalities related to the flooding have been confirmed by state emergency officials after storms rolled into West Virginia…

As of Saturday afternoon, 23 fatalities related to the flooding have been confirmed by state emergency officials after storms rolled into West Virginia early Thursday. Thousands were left without power and several roads rendered impassable.

WVPB’s Kara Lofton traveled to northern Kanawha County Saturday and took these images of the flooding damage. For complete coverage of the storms and flooding, follow our ongoing coverage here.

A mangled pickup truck in Clendenin, West Virginia is seen Saturday June 25, 2016 submerged in mud and covered by downed trees.

A woman stands outside of her home Saturday in Clendenin. Water levels reached to the top of the home’s roof.

David Turner stands in front of his overturned semi at the Clendenin Park & Ride on Saturday.

A bridge collapse at the Crossing Mall in Elkview stranded many locals. By Saturday afternoon, many of them had been rescued by emergency officials.

Memebers of the West Virginia National Guard travel by way of ATVs to do health and wellness checks for residents of Clendenin and other areas in northern Kanawha County.

Members of the West Virginia National Guard check on Donald Elliot during a health and wellness visit in Clendenin. Elliot suffered a stroke a couple weeks ago.

Sarah Chandler stands on the front porch of her mother’s home in Clendenin on Saturday, June 25, 2016.

Muddy cars sit in front a flooded-out home on Saturday, June 25, 2016, in Clendenin, W.Va.

The Dairy Queen in Clendenin, W.Va., on Saturday, June 25, 2016.

Marsha Larch looks into a room at her home that was flooded by this week’s storms.

More Drinking Water Distribution Sites Available

Updated June 25 at 3:23 p.m.

West Virginia American Water updated its list of potable water tankers where customers can fill containers:

Frame Road in Elkview across from the DOH garage
Dollar General on Maywood Avenue in Clendenin
Smith’s Foodfair in Clendenin
Corner of Lizmore Road and River Haven Road, off the Queen Shoals Bridge
Keeneys Creek Missionary Baptist Church, in Winona

West Virginia American Water says it has also provided water tankers to the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to provide assistance to the flood-devastated communities of Richwood, Rainelle and White Sulphur Springs. Exact locations are determined by local emergency management.

Original Post

West Virginia American Water said Saturday, June 25, that it has restored service to most water systems affected by Thursday’s flooding in the southeastern part of the state. The company says it is now working on isolated pockets of water outages.

West Virginia American Water reported 3,000 customers in Kanawha County were experiencing water outages on Friday. The outages were the result of washed-out water mains and damaged pump stations.

The Elk River Road booster station outside of Charleston was under several feet of water, which stopped crews from being able to restore services in the Clendenin area just north of the capital city.

In a statement released Saturday, American said service has been restored to customers in the Joes Creek area of Boone County through a temporary water line installed at a washed-out river crossing, as well as to all but about 60 customers in the Winona area of Fayette County.

The company said crews will work throughout the night Saturday to install a temporary water line to Crossings Mall in Elkview using the emergency access road being created by the Division of Highways. Workers also are working overnight to gain access and begin repairs to the flooded Elk River Road booster station, which is a critical facility in the overall restoration process for the Elkview and Clendenin areas.

American Water said tankers are available at the following locations. Customers should bring their own containers to fill:

Frame Road in Elkview across from the Department of Highways garage (Kanawha County)
Keeneys Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Winona (Fayette County)

Because West Virginia American Water lent its additional water tankers to the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to help Richwood and Rainelle, the company got more tankers from its sister company in Pennsylvania.
The tankers are expected to arrive overnight and will be available in Clendenin as areas become accessible, the company said in its news release.

Flooding in Richwood: Image Gallery

As many as five fatalities related to the flooding were reported as of midday Friday after storms rolled into West Virginia early Thursday. Thousands were left without power and several roads rendered impassable.

WVPB’s Kara Lofton travelled to Richwood on Thursday evening and took these images of the flooding damage. For complete coverage of the storms and flooding, follow our ongoing coverage here.