WELCH, W.Va. – The flood damage done to McDowell County is believed to be the worst the county has ever seen.
Residents are still feeling the effects as they try and salvage the place they call home.
Scott Long’s home on River Drive suffered extensive flood damage. Some of that damage includes ruined furniture and water soaked floors.
“The more I watched it the higher it got. I kept thinking maybe it’s going to get real bad,” said Long.
Long says he’s lived in his home for nearly 20 and says usually water from the Tug Fork River typically doesn’t go past his shed in his back yard.
“Right when I went by the door in the basement which is ground level I went into the kitchen and it blew the door open and the river came in. I came into the dining room, started coming in my french doors. Came through here to the living room and is started coming through the front door,” said Long.
Long says he, his wife and their beloved dog were able to evacuate safely. Long says he’s unsure if the house can be saved and says insurance likely won’t cover the damages. However, he says he’s optimistic about recovery.
“It was devastating, it destroyed everything we had in the basement, the first floor is pretty much destroyed. Our property, I had been working on this place like I said for 18 years it seems like it’s not a total loss but we’re still good. We’re blessed and we’re alive and I guess we’ll start over again,” said Long.
The water didn’t discriminate in the county and even flooded the homes of the elderly. Barbara and Chuck Reeves who have been married for 70 years. Their home for the last 24 years was flooded out.
The two say when the water started to rise around their home they knew they had to leave.
“You know what runs in my mind? I’m out of here, I’m going across the street,” said Barbara.
In fact, the Reeves say they did go across the street and stayed with their son for four days before returning home to see the damage.
“Couldn’t see nothing but mud. If you would go to walk you would slide. It was real slick,” said Barbara.
Thanks to volunteers the Reeves’ home has been cleared of mud and water for the most part. The couple is convinced they’ll make a full recovery from any damage sustained.
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