Emergency Declaration Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

1 Dead, 1 Missing In Eastern Kentucky Coal Prep Plant Collapse

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a declaration of emergency in Martin County, and rescue teams were working to locate the missing worker.

This story was updated on Nov. 2, 2023, with a quote from a Martin County official.

One man is dead and another man is missing after a coal tipple collapsed Tuesday night in Martin County, Kentucky, on the border with West Virginia.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced the worker’s death on social media on Wednesday morning. Beshear signed a declaration of emergency in Martin County, and rescue teams were working to locate the missing worker.

“Please pray for the family and loved ones of this individual,” Beshear said on social media of the worker who died.

The 11-story building at the Martin County Mine Prep Plant collapsed around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to a statement from Kentucky Emergency Management.

The workers became trapped under tons of steel and concrete.

Local officials said the prep plant had been idle and the workers were salvaging it.

State officials said rescue workers and emergency responders were being deployed from Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky and the Kentucky National Guard.

Lon Lafferty, the county executive, said he was still hoping to have good news to share on Thursday.

“It remains a rescue operation as of this morning, at this time, and we pray that those efforts will be successful.”

The names of the workers have not been released. It isn’t clear what caused the collapse of the structure.

Bill Limiting Justice’s Emergency Powers Continues To Advance

Senate Bill 128, clarifying the authority of Governor and Legislature to proclaim and declare a state of emergency and preparedness passed the House of Delegates on Tuesday, 93-3. The Senate already passed the bill on the opening day of the legislative session.

Efforts by senators and delegates to limit the governor’s emergency powers began in last summer’s interim sessions. The issue surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Gov. Jim Justice only lifted the emergency order at the end of 2022, lasting much longer than many lawmakers would have preferred.

During their floor discussion, delegates voiced concerns that irrevocable damage could have already been done during the emergency order. They identified concerns about the perils of micromanaging during a state of emergency and worried that the language in one failed amendment might allow for citizens to hoard resources during a snowstorm due to the limitation of the governor’s powers.

The House adopted a key amendment that limits the governor’s use of his powers to 30 days. Afterward, everything is subject to legislative review. It gives the legislature more power over the time and definition of an emergency. It toughens the definitions of state of emergency and state of preparedness. It removes executive authority to suspend or limit the sale, dispensing or transportation of alcoholic beverages.

Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, said during floor debate there was a learning curve gained during the pandemic.

“The bill before us, that addresses the so-called emergency powers with the executive branch, has really nothing to do with personalities, nothing to do with certain factions within this chamber, or within the chamber or across the hall or within the personalities downstairs,” McGeehan said. “It really has to do with certain ideas. And that’s what I usually gravitate towards: ideas. And the idea really is that we really, in going forward in the future, cannot abide by something that is rather antithetical to the American tradition that is sort of a simplified one man rule in perpetuity.”

The bill now goes back to the Senate after being amended in the House to see if they agree with the changes.

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.

Gov. Tomblin Makes Requests to FEMA, Small Business Administration Following Chemical Leak

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin Monday urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to modify the current federal Emergency Declaration to provide for Direct Funding Assistance to state and local government programs and eligible non-profit agencies in the nine counties affected by the Elk River chemical spill on January 9.

“At the time of the Presidential Emergency Declaration, no one knew how long this assistance would be needed,” Gov. Tomblin said in a letter to the agency.

“The response to the Elk River chemical spill is ongoing and many of our agencies continue to work hard to recover from this spill. I urge FEMA to modify the current emergency declaration so eligible expenditures by our first responders, state and local governments and non-profit agencies can be reimbursed,” Tomblin noted in a statement also issued Monday.

As the current Emergency Declaration stands, public and non-profit agencies that have made expenditures to distribute supplies and meet the needs of those in the affected areas are presently denied access to Category B Emergency Protective Measures funding.

A modification to the current declaration would allow eligible applicants in the affected counties to receive FEMA support, including reimbursement.

Tomblin also requested assistance Monday from the Small Business Administration to expedite help for small businesses and eligible private, non-profit organizations.

“Businesses suffered revenue losses as a result of the West Virginia American Water’s DO NOT USE order in addition to local employees who lost wages,” Gov. Tomblin said in a letter to the organization. “This event caused significant disruption to businesses in the affected areas.”

Gov. Tomblin also noted in his letter to the Small Business Administration that even after water was restored, certain businesses and restaurants were required to cleanse their facilities in order to meet requirements set by local health departments.