06/28/2016
All Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) districts and counties in West
Virginia are on alert for possible activation in the aftermath of severe
flooding, which has claimed at least 2 dozen lives, destroyed hundreds of
homes, and damaged countless others. More than 30,000 were without electrical
power at one point, but that number now is less than 8000. More rain has been
forecast for the region, and President Barack Obama has declared a major
disaster in the state.
"Currently there are no ARES/RACES activations in progress in West Virginia,"
Section Emergency Coordinator Jim Stephenson, WV8JS, told ARRL. "The flood
damage was extensive in many parts of the state; however, the wired telephone
and cell phone systems have remained mostly operational." Right now, 44
counties in West Virginia are in emergency status. Although the emergency in
West Virginia is grave, Stephenson said there is currently no communication
emergency. "It is amazing that the wired telephone and cell phone systems have
stood up against this severe flooding," he added.
According to FEMA, the President's action makes federal funding available to
affected residents of Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties, including
grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover
uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business
owners recover from the disaster's effects.
West Virginia Gov Earl Ray Tomblin said he will pursue additional assistance
for all affected areas. The governor said the National Guard and local
emergency responders have been dealing with the effects of the flooding. FEMA
officials toured the most heavily affected areas over the weekend.
Stephenson said that he and Kanawha County Emergency Coordinator Jason Means,
W8KTM, spent June 27 at West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) headquarters in
Charleston, helping to install an Amateur Radio station in the joint operations
center. He said the station will have HF and VHF capabilities. "The WVNG has
about 700 troops on the ground working and FEMA is in the state assessing
damage," he said. "West Virginia Section Manager Phil Groves, N8SFO, has been
distributing food and water in the Richwood, Nicholas County, area."
The flooding washed out the Greenbrier Classic PGA Tour event, which had been
scheduled for mid-July at the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs. The
resort has been providing accommodations for some flood victims.
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