Community Bulletin
Family medicine physician Andrew Colebank, DO, has joined WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital at the Brushy Fork Rural Health Clinic in Buckhannon, where he is now scheduling patients of all ages for appointments beginning in October. Read more →
This story brought to you paywall-free, courtesy of the My Buckhannon team and our community partners
BUCKHANNON — The West Virginia National Guard is not leaving Upshur County on Tuesday and will keep collecting flood debris until the work is finished, officials said Sunday.
The noon Tuesday deadline announced earlier for debris removal no longer applies. But officials are still asking residents to get flood-damaged items — furniture, drywall, appliances, soaked belongings — to the curb as soon as possible.
Buckhannon mayor Robbie Skinner clarified Sunday evening that the National Guard will not be leaving the county on Tuesday but will remain as long as it takes to complete the cleanup operation.
“We’ve worked hard over the course of this weekend with the West Virginia Army National Guard to consolidate communication and clarify their timeframe as it relates to their presence here in our community,” Skinner said. “This afternoon, we confirmed the Guard is not leaving our area on Tuesday. They will be here until everything has successfully been picked up – not just within the city limits, but also throughout the damaged portions of our county.”
City and county officials had previously announced that the Guard would no longer pick up debris after Tuesday at noon, calling the deadline “part of a countywide initiative to accelerate cleanup and support families affected by recent flooding.”
Officials are still asking residents to put debris on the curb as soon as possible to ensure the process runs smoothly.
The free debris collection includes all of Upshur County. You do not need to call to request a pickup. Guard units are going property to property and neighborhood to neighborhood. Just put debris at the curb, and crews will get it.
“You do not need to make an appointment,” Skinner emphasized. “As long as the waste is discarded at the edge of your property/edge of the street, they will be making their way to pick everything up. They also know to check alleyways within the city limits. Once again, this service is free.”
Items should go at the edge of the right-of-way without blocking roadways, sidewalks or drainage paths. Skinner said anyone who needs help moving damaged items out of their homes should call the Upshur County Office of Emergency Management at 304-472-4983 to arrange for a volunteer clean-up crew to assist.
The West Virginia Emergency Management Division said Saturday that the Guard must access the debris from public property.
“The WVNG will be coming around to collect debris directly on public property,” the division said. “There can be some limitations when accessing private property, so we must have access to the debris on public property.”
Crews are collecting flood debris only.
“Debris removal is for flood debris only,” the division said, adding that crews frequently find the collection being used for spring cleaning. “We must use our resources appropriately for flood recovery purposes only.”
Statewide, the Guard has 234 personnel and 64 vehicles deployed and has cleared more than 1,350 tons of debris, according to a recovery update from Governor Patrick Morrisey’s office.
Residents on back roads and side streets will see crews as well.
“Short answer, yes,” the division said in response to questions about out-of-the-way roads. “Long answer, it will take a little more time. We cannot assure a definitive time frame, but people are working around the clock to ensure your safety, and theirs, as we gather debris.”
For drinking water, free meals, volunteer help, crisis counseling and the latest on the federal disaster request, see our full flood recovery update.
