BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – For Austin Stanley, learning that McDowell County had been savagely hit by devastating floods was personal.
Mcdowell County holds a special place in Stanley’s heart, having started his career in public safety there.
So he launched a fundraiser through his Spartan Protection, LLC to assist all those who were affected.
In McDowell County, there are people without power, bridges washed out, no way to get to places, and non-existent water in certain areas.
“I know a lot of people in that county and can name many people right now who lost everything,” Stanley said. “It hurts. So I felt led to step in and to try to get supplies down there.”
Spartan Protection, LLC received a donation from Pet Supplies Plus in Beckley.
“People don’t think about the pets that are also affected by this flood. We got a donation of over 20 bags of dog and cat food. That’s a lot of food,” said Stanley. “We try to think outside the box and help the individuals down there that need it the most.”
Welch, Kimball, Bradshaw, and a little bit of Iaeger took the brunt of the storm.
“Right in front of Welch Community Hospital where it flooded almost over a couple of those ambulances,” Stanley said. “That was a hard-hit area. The train bridge that you go under to get into city limits was up to the train tracks in water.”
It will probably cost hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild the hardest hit areas in McDowell and other counties statewide, and more than a year before everything is back to normal.
“But what we’re doing today is taking this down to the command post at the armory, and that’s where we’re making our supplies drop-off,” said Stanley. ” Then we’re going to assist in transporting it across the county if we have to.”
Giving back is in Austin’s DNA. He is willing to load up his vehicle, if necessary, and drive down to McDowell County every two weeks — to get more supplies to them.
“West Virginians are the best people. We are all about helping everybody out equally,” Stanley said. “So please try to help those people that need assistance in these flood-ravaged counties.”
TO LEARN MORE
https://www.facebook.com/spartanprotectionwv
