WELCH, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito made stops in the City of Welch on Monday to better understand flood recovery efforts.
The discussions between Capito and local leaders included the need for stream restoration and debris removal in county waterways.
“These stream beds haven’t been dredged or restored since the ‘77 flood. No ones done anything to help that. This is just a culmination of all those years of high water through the years from ‘77 until now,” said Bobby Bowman, emergency management director for McDowell County.
Last week the McDowell County Commission signed off on a resolution requesting stream restoration and debris removal. Copies were sent to state and federal leaders, including Capito who says she’s aware of the need.
“I’ve worked to try to get more money into pre-mitigation. In other words let’s mitigate this debris because when it steps up and we have a heavy rain it just makes the situation that much worse,” said Capito. “They’re going to use, working with the conservation folks some pre-mitigation dollars to try and clean out the river.”
Bowman says it’s taking less and less rainfall to flood areas in the county. He says in fact it took less rainfall in February to flood than it did when the county was devastated by flooding in 1977.
“It will flood again, absolutely. I’m not saying it will be a bad flood or it will flood everywhere in the county like this one. There will be floods here and there through this county until that gets done,” said Bowman.
Capito’s discussions with local leaders also included the continuing need for a bridge on Welch’s McDowell Street. Welch’s Mayor, Harold McBride says the current Welch underpass is very prone to flooding which was showcased by February’s flooding.
“All we do generally is clean the mud out and wait for the next one. We have got to learn to do some things to help us with the next one,” said McBride. “That’s what I wanted to meet with her about some flood walls and our bridge that needs built. Every time it floods you can’t get anyone to the hospital which is very dangerous.”
During Capito’s trip to Welch she also made stops at city hall and the Welch armory.
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