McDOWELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Last week, we looked at the devastation as the flooding cleanup remains underway in McDowell County.
Welch residents still reeling from flooding
WSAZ’s Tim Irr has a follow-up about how several schools in the county have become emergency shelters.
While school may not be in session, Principal Gary Estep is even busier than usual at Southside K-8 in War, West Virginia, and he’s not the only one.
The school was fortunately spared from the recent flooding that ravaged so much of our region, including nearby communities like Welch. Now, it’s one of several schools in McDowell County that have been transformed into relief centers.
“Three shelters fully staffed around the clock by our teachers, our bus drivers, our cooks, our custodians, all of our staff. We do have community members who have stepped up, as well,” Estep said. “I mean, everybody comes in and they just do what they need to do. It does not matter if it’s Sunday morning or Monday night. It’s just the culture. It’s the way we do things.”
Southside teachers Meschell Billings and Kaitlyn Hardy are, of course, looking forward to seeing their kids back in the classroom. Still, this living example of a civics lesson in community service has been very rewarding.
“I’ve met people I’ve never met before,” Billings said. “People come in and they’re so grateful and thankful for everything we’re able to give them. Some people come in to get a hot shower. I mean, it’s just been a fabulous experience.” Hardy said, “We’ve seen people who have had their houses destroyed. But they’re helping out their neighbors before trying to find out if their house is OK.”
Hardy has turned all the community experience at Southside into a viral sensation on TikTok, shining a light on all the good that’s happening, despite the tragedy.
“My friends and I said we’re going to have some stories to tell, because kids always think their teachers live at school,” Hardy said. “Now, that they saw the video of me staying, they’re going to be like, ‘I knew you lived at the school.’ ”
State Superintendent Michele Blatt heard all about the Herculean effort in McDowell County and made the trip down south to see it in person. Clearly, she’s impressed.
“I met a teacher who lost everything, and she had been volunteering here at Southside earlier in the day, serving meals,” Blatt said. “Their spirit and the way they care about people says a lot.”
A place of learning has been transformed into a vaccination center for tetanus, a food bank, a shelter from the cold – but also a place where people who have lost so much can at least find people who truly care.
“Neighbor helps neighbor. Friend helps friend. Our new slogan is, ‘when the floodwaters rise, so do the citizens of McDowell County.’ “
Southside K-8 was built at the site of the old Big Creek High School — made famous in Homer Hickam’s novel “Rocket Boys” and the movie “October Sky.”
The Big Creek Gymnasium is still behind the school but was heavily damaged in the flood.
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