Community Bulletin
Since joining Vandalia Health, the former Davis Health System has widened access across central West Virginia. Primary care remains the front door — now at five clinics, including Buckhannon Medical Care, backed by a 190-location network. Read more →
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BUCKHANNON — Joint damage assessments in Upshur and Lewis counties as of Saturday evening counted 33 homes destroyed, 91 with major damage, 235 with minor damage and 182 otherwise impacted.
West Virginia’s congressional delegation put those figures in a letter to President Donald Trump written Saturday, asking for an expedited major disaster declaration and saying initial assistance needs between the two counties come to nearly $5 million.
Governor Patrick Morrisey made the same request of Trump the same day, formally asking for an expedited major disaster declaration for the storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flash flooding and landslides that began July 21.
The request seeks federal Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie and Upshur counties, plus statewide hazard mitigation money. More counties may be added as damage information comes in.
“Our state has mobilized every available resource to protect lives, support affected families, and begin the recovery process,” Morrisey said. “While West Virginians have shown extraordinary resilience and neighbors have stepped up to help neighbors, the scope of this disaster exceeds what our state and local communities can reasonably manage alone. Federal assistance is essential to help families recover, restore critical public infrastructure, and rebuild stronger for the future.”
If approved, the declaration would open assistance to homeowners and local governments.
Approval would unlock federal individual assistance “that will provide critical support to families working to secure temporary housing, repair damaged homes, replace essential personal property, and begin rebuilding their lives,” the delegation wrote.
“Likewise, public assistance is essential to help local governments restore emergency services, repair damaged infrastructure, remove debris, and safely open the public facilities on which these communities depend,” the letter said.
The West Virginia National Guard has assessed roughly 737 damaged homes in Lewis and Upshur counties, according to a recovery update from Morrisey’s office. Statewide, the governor’s office said, more than 950 households have filed damage reports, and joint local, state and federal teams are still in the field validating damage.
Residents and business owners who have not filled out the state damage survey should do it. The count of documented local losses affects how much federal help reaches Upshur County. Residents should also note that flood debris has to be at the curb by noon Tuesday for National Guard pickup.
As Upshur County continues recovery efforts, encouraging signs of progress are being seen.
According to FirstEnergy, power has been restored to nearly the entire county. Fewer than twenty customers in the county remain without service, mainly along Stone Coal Road, according to the company.
Mayor Robbie Skinner said Saturday afternoon that rural parts of Upshur County should not go without drinking water, thanks to many large donations from around the state.
“At the Auxiliary Gym at West Virginia Wesleyan College, we have so much drinking water,” Skinner wrote. “Earlier this morning, we delivered pallets of water to the Ellamore Volunteer Fire Department and more was just delivered to the community building at Ten Mile. If you need drinking water, please go to one of these places. It’s there, and ready for pick-up.”
The Wesleyan auxiliary gym is the county’s central donation and pickup point, open daily at 8 a.m. Residents who need supplies can walk in and take what they need. Regular donations go to the oval by the chapel fountain, off Camden Avenue; large or commercial loads go to the parking lot at 151 Cebe Ross Drive.
Skinner said the hub still needs laundry detergent, extension cords, pet food and cat litter, box fans, fresh fruit, bread, jelly, peanut butter and contractor trash bags. Other needed items are Odoban (mold killer), shovels, squeegees, mops, brooms, lime, dehumidifiers, shop vacs and heavy-duty totes.
“Again, right now, they have plenty of drinking water,” Skinner wrote.
Households that need hands rather than supplies can get them.
“We have several volunteer groups here in town, deployed out into neighborhoods, working in homes,” Skinner wrote. “Please call the Upshur County Office of Emergency Management at 304-472-4983, and we will work to connect you with help.”
Community Care of West Virginia has set up a drop-in crisis counseling clinic at the college.
“You don’t have to face this alone,” a press release about the clinic said. “Whether you’re processing the emotional impact of the storms, looking for someone to talk to, or need help finding additional resources, trained mental health professionals are here to help.”
No appointment is necessary; just stop by from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the WVWC Health Center.
Free meals are still spread across town. The Whistle Stop Bar and Grill on North Spring Street has pre-paid for meals — customers pick a paid receipt off the wall and hand it to the staff. Operation BBQ Relief is set up at Walmart in Buckhannon, with the capacity to serve 20,000 people. Chapel Hill United Methodist Church will serve meals from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The Upshur Parish House took Sunday off to catch its breath.
“Because of the overwhelming support from so many volunteers, donors, churches, and organizations, we will use Sunday to regroup and prepare so we can continue serving our neighbors well,” the Parish House said.
It reopens Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 68 College Ave. with a full week scheduled. Lunch will be served Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Flood relief services move next door to the Hall House, the white house beside the Parish House. The food pantry and Crosslines services stay put.
Tuesday’s water killed two Upshur County residents and set off a response that has not paused since.
“Thank you to everyone who has and continues to step up and help those suffering in our community,” Skinner wrote. “You are sincerely appreciated, and it’s your work that is ensuring that the City of Buckhannon will rise from this disaster.”
