CHARLESTON, WV (WOAY) – In a press conference Friday, Governor Patrick Morrisey announced more than $8 million in utility improvements for communities in McDowell County and marked the anniversary of last year’s deadly Valentine’s Day floods in the southern coalfields.
The improvements, funded by an Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization grant, will help improve distressed systems and expand public water in a region routinely found to have the lowest quality water in the nation.Â
“We emphasize clean water. It’s important,” Governor Patrick Morrisey said. “Especially in McDowell County, southern West Virginia, and it’s important in our efforts to attract more people to our state, track jobs, build homes and grow.”
Davy will get $2.75 million to build the town’s first-ever centralized wastewater system.
Jolo will get more than $2 million to install 60,000 feet of new waterline, extending service to 119 new connections, including five businesses.
Gary will receive $1 million to strengthen its existing sewer system.
Elkhorn Creek will get $2.5 million to extend public water to 280 customers, including Ashland Resort, as well as other local businesses.
Another $1.26 million will replace the town of Kermit’s failing water tank in Mingo County.
McDowell County Commission President Michael Brooks said the projects have been a long time coming.
“We realize we’ve got a lot of people upset. We need water today, and with these funds and these grants, we’re able to see our PSD able to get some shovels in the ground, and a lot of the folks in our county being able to receive some much-needed infrastructure upgrades,” Brooks said. “We as the Commission, Commissioner Patterson, Commissioner Dotson, we’re very thankful for our partnership here with the Governor.”
Morrisey said clean water and sewer systems are critical for expanding economic opportunities.
“If you cannot deliver clean drinking water or safely manage wastewater, you cannot attract jobs, build homes, or grow your economy. West Virginia is ready to grow, and that starts with strong fundamentals,” Morrisey said.
The governor also renewed his calls for funding for a new, advanced flood warning system, marking one year since deadly flooding killed four people in the Coalfields.
Morrisey first announced the proposal in his State of the State address.
“Flooding is an all too frequent occurrence, not just in southern West Virginia, but all across West Virginia. The challenge we found is not just water, it’s time. And a lot of times in these situations when I’ve gone on site, you could see that minutes really matter,” Morrisey said.
The system, called THE Smart Environmental Notification Threat Response System, or SENTRY for short, would cost $10 million over three years. It is driven by artificial intelligence that evaluates rain gauges, soil saturation, wind data and stream modeling.
The system aims to forecast elevated flood risks one to six hours in advance, with an accuracy exceeding 90%.
“Traditional streams and river gauges, well, they can tell you when the water is already high. That’s useful, but it’s also often a lagging indicator of what’s needed,” Morrisey said. SENTRY is trying to get out in front of the problem with leading indicators, more sensors, more data and better modeling. So we might be able to recognize the risk before people die, and you get to communicate it back to people a little bit quicker.”
