Rising waters, risks: Climate change, aging infrastructure affecting WV flood risk
ELKINS – More than 40 years later, the memories of the 1985 flood still sit vividly in the minds of West Virginians who lived through it.
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmp>J |@@C6 8C6H FA :? !2CD@?D[ %F4<6C r@F?EJ[ 2?5 =:G65 E9C@F89 E96 t=64E:@? s2J `hgd 7=@@5D] $96 C642==D E92E 52J =:<6 :E H2D J6DE6C52J]k^Am
kAm“xE 925 366? C2:?:?8[ 2?5 >J 525 42>6 9@>6 7C@> H@C< 2?5 D2:5 E96 DEC66ED H6C6 7=@@5:?8 :? E@H?[ H9:49 H2D <:?5 @7 ?@C>2= 3642FD6 @7 5C2:?286 AC@3=6>D[” |@@C6 D2:5] “pD E96 H2E6C 4@?E:?F65 E@ C:D6[ :E H2D 2C@F?5 >J 9:AD 2E E9:D A@:?E] x DE2CE65 D66:?8 E9:?8D 7=@2E 3J] x D2H 2 9@FD6[ x D2H 4@HD[ 42CD[ x D2H 6G6CJE9:?8]”k^Am
kAmx? E@E2=[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HG>6EC@?6HD]4@>^a_`d^“^_c^`hgd\7=@@5\DE:==\92F?ED\E9@D6\H9@\D2H\:EQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmbg A6@A=6 5:65k^2m :? (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 7C@> E96 }@G] c\d[ `hgd 7=@@5D E92E 4@DE E96 DE2E6 C@F89=J Sf__ >:==:@? :? 52>286D]k^Am
kAm|@@C6’D 6IA6C:6?46 H2D @?6 @7 4@F?E=6DD DE@C:6D 7C@> E96 `hgd 7=@@5[ 2? 6G6?E E92E 56G2DE2E65 4@>>F?:E:6D 24C@DD ?@CE96C? 2?5 62DE6C? (6DE ‘:C8:?:2] xE H2D 4@?D:56C65 2 C2C6 `__\J62C 7=@@5 2E E96 E:>6[ E96 <:?5 E92E 92AA6?D @?=J @?46 :? 2 =:76E:>6] %96 DE2E6 92D D:?46 6IA6C:6?465 D6G6C2= >2;@C 7=@@5:?8 6G6?ED =:<6 :E :? E96 564256D E92E 7@==@H65]k^Am
kAm(6DE ‘:C8:?:2 92D D66? >2;@C 7=@@5:?8 282:? 2?5 282:?i :? `hhe[ a__`[ a_`e[ a_ab 2?5 282:? E9:D A2DE DAC:?8 2?5 DF>>6C[ H96C6 :?E6?D6 C2:?72== @G6CH96=>65 5C2:?286 DJDE6>D 2?5 EFC?65 C@25D :?E@ C:G6CD :? E96 D@FE96C? 4@2=7:6=5D 2?5 2C62D :?4=F5:?8 |2C:@? 2?5 ~9:@ 4@F?E:6D[ C6DA64E:G6=J]k^Am
kAmqFE ?6H 4=:>2E6 52E2 DF886DE E96 7=@@5D 92AA6?:?8 ?@H 2C6 ?@E E96 D2>6 2D E9@D6 :? E96 A2DE 2?5 2C6 364@>:?8 >@C6 7C6BF6?E]k^Am
k9bm(6EE6C 2?5 5C:6C D:>F=E2?6@FD=Jk^9bm
kAm}:49@=2D +68C6[ 2 AC@76DD@C @7 7@C6DE 9J5C@=@8J 2?5 E96 5:C64E@C @7 E96 >@F?E2:? 9J5C@=@8J =23 2E (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 &?:G6CD:EJ[ D2JD E96 DE2E6 :D 364@>:?8 3@E9 H6EE6C 2?5 5C:6C D:>F=E2?6@FD=J[ 2 C64:A6 7@C ?6H6C[ >@C6 D6G6C6 AC64:A:E2E:@? A2EE6C?D]k^Am
kAm“%96 H2C>6C E96 2:C E6>A6C2EFC6[ E96 ,>@C6 E96. 2E>@DA96C6 6IA2?5D[ E96 8C62E6C E96 23:=:EJ 7@C E96 2E>@DA96C6 E@ DE@C6 H2E6C] p?5 D@ H:E9 E96 :?4C62D65 6G2A@C2E:@? 7C@> E96 =2?5 DFC7246[ E96C6’D >@C6 H2E6C 8@:?8 :?E@ E96 2E>@DA96C6[ 2?5 >@C6 H2E6C 42? 36 DE@C65[” +68C6 D2:5] “$@ H96? C2:?72== 5@6D 92AA6?[ E96 C2:?72== :D 962G:6C 2?5 >@C6 6IEC6>6] p?5 D@ H92E H6’C6 D66:?8 E9C@F89@FE pAA2=249:2[ :? >2?J A2CED 24C@DD E96 8=@36[ :D H:E9 2 H2C>:?8 2E>@DA96C6]”k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 A2CED @7 E96 J62C[ E96 2E>@DA96C6 :D 86EE:?8 5C:6C 5F6 E@ =24< @7 AC64:A:E2E:@?[ 2?5 H96? :E 5@6D @44FC[ :E :D 962G:6C 2?5 >@C6 6IEC6>6[ +68C6 6IA=2:?65]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ (‘&VD (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 r=:>2E6 {:?<[ 2 52E232D6 @7 H62E96C 2?5 4=:>2E6 52E2[ E96 2>@F?E @7 C2:?72== E92E 92AA6?D H:E9:? E96 7:CDE 9@FC @7 2 DE@C> 92D :?4C62D65 3J 23@FE b_T 5FC:?8 E96 A2DE b_ J62CD[ H9:49 92D =65 E@ >@C6 7C6BF6?E 2?5 6IEC6>6 7=@@5D]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52E2]HG8:D]HGF]65F^AF3^#p^w{^#p\{^$%&s*^e\!=246D^u=@@5\#:D<\pDD6DD>6?E0e\4@>>F?:E:6D\@7\$@FE9\r6?EC2=\(‘0#6A@CE0a_ac]A57RiOiE6IEl(6DETa_’:C8:?:2Ta_92DTa_D@>6Ta_@7Ta_E96Ta_9:896DE[6DA64:2==JTa_:?Ta_2C62DTa_H:E9Ta_D:8?:7:42?ETa_D@4:@Tas64@?@>:4Ta_492==6?86DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmr@>>F?:EJ #:D< pDD6DD>6?E #6A@CEk^2m C6=62D65 :? s646>36C a_ac[ (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 7246D D@>6 @7 E96 9:896DE 7=@@5 GF=?6C23:=:EJ :? E96 ?2E:@?[ H:E9 hcT @7 :ED age 4@>>F?:E:6D 2E D:8?:7:42?E C:D<] #6A62E65 7=@@5:?8 42? @G6CH96=> 2 4@>>F?:EJ’D 23:=:EJ E@ C64@G6C[ 6DA64:2==J :? A=246D 2=C625J 562=:?8 H:E9 >2;@C D@4:@\64@?@>:4 492==6?86D]k^Am
k9bm$E2E6VD 28:?8 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 2 VE9C62E >F=E:A=:6CVk^9bm
kAmqFE :?4C62D65 C2:?72== 5F6 E@ 2 H2C>:?8 4=:>2E6 :D ?@E E96 @?=J :DDF6 42FD:?8 >2;@C 7=@@5D :? (6DE ‘:C8:?:2] x?7C2DECF4EFC6 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 H2D @C:8:?2==J 56D:8?65 7@C E96D6 6G6?ED E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2C49=628F6]@C8^2CE:4=6^5:77:4F=E\E6CC2:?\E96\9:DE@CJ\@7\H6DE\G:C8:?:2D\:?7C2DECF4EFC6Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@44FC :? E96 `hE9 2?5 a_E9 46?EFC:6Dk^2m[ ?@E 4FCC6?E 4=:>2E6 6G6?ED 2?5 92D ?@H 364@>6 @FE52E65]k^Am
kAm“pD E96 4=:>2E6 492?86D[ 2?5 2D 72DE 2D :E’D 492?8:?8[ :E’D :>A@DD:3=6 7@C E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 56D:8?65 E@ <66A FA H:E9 E9@D6 492?86D[” +68C6 D2:5] “}@E @?=J :D @FC :?7C2DECF4EFC6 F?56CD:K65 7@C E96 <:?5 @7 C2:?72== E92E H6 2C6 C646:G:?8 2?5 AC@;64E65 E@ C646:G6 :? E96 7FEFC6[ @FC C6D:56?ED 2?5 @FC 3F:=5:?8D 2?5 @FC 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 @FC :?7C2DECF4EFC6 2C6 2== 2=@?8 C:G6CD] Q%9:D 4C62E6D 2 E9C62E >F=E:A=:6C :? E96 D6?D6 @7 GF=?6C23:=:EJ E@ 7=@@5D]”k^Am
kAm(6DE ‘:C8:?:2 92D 23@FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C:G6CD]8@G^H6DE\G:C8:?:2RiOiE6IElx?Ta_724ETarTa_(6DETa_’:C8:?:2Ta_92D[@7Ta_E96Ta_DE2E6UR_bhjDTa_C:G6CTa_>:=6DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmba[ae_ >:=6D @7 C:G6CDk^2m 2?5 C@F89=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]HG6?4J4=@A65:2]@C8^6?EC:6D^dffQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmc_[___ DEC62> >:=6Dk^2m[ H:E9 >@DE @7 E96 DE2E6’D FC32?:K65 2C62D 36:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]HG6?4J4=@A65:2]@C8^6?EC:6D^a_bfQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4@?46?EC2E65 2=@?8 >2;@C C:G6CDk^2m =:<6 E96 ~9:@[ z2?2H92 2?5 |@?@?8296=2]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 D966C 2>@F?E @7 @FE52E65 :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ C6A=24:?8 @C 3F:=5:?8 ?6H :?7C2DECF4EFC6 24C@DD E96 6?E:C6 DE2E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3:56?H9:E69@FD6]2C49:G6D]8@G^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_a`^_e^qxu\u24ED966E\(‘]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH@F=5 4@DE 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CDk^2m[ 4@>3:?65 H:E9 C646?E D=2D96D E@ 7656C2= 7F?5:?8 C682C5:?8 7=@@5 C6D:=:6?46] p44@C5:?8 E@ +68C6[ (6DE ‘:C8:?:2?D >FDE C6=J @? @E96C H2JD E@ 36 >@C6 7=@@5 C6D:=:6?E]k^Am
kAm“p =@E @7 E96 H@C< E92E H6 5@ :? E96 >@F?E2:? 9J5C@=@8J =23 :D H@C<:?8 H:E9 4@>>F?:E:6D E@ 364@>6 >@C6 7=@@5 C6D:=:6?E[ >62?:?8 H6 <?@H E96 962GJ C2:?72== 2?5 E96 7=@@5D 2C6 8@:?8 E@ :?4C62D6 E96C6[” +68C6 D2:5] “$@ 72C 2D E96 2E>@DA96C6 :D H2C>:?8[ D@ 72C 2D 4=:>2E6 492?86 :D 92AA6?:?8[ C2:?72== 2?5 7=@@5D 2C6 8@:?8 E@ ,:?4C62D6.] (6 <?@H H6 42?’E DE@A E96 C2:? 2?5 E96 7=@@5D[ E96 H2E6C >@G:?8 5@H? @FC >@F?E2:? D=@A6D] $@ H92E 42? H6 5@n”k^Am
kAm+68C6 D2JD <?@H:?8 9@H E@ 24E 2?5 AC6A2C6 7@C 2 7=@@5:?8 6G6?E :D @?6 A2CE @7 E96 D@=FE:@?[ 6G6? :7 :E :D F?<?@H? :7 @C H96? 2 7=@@5 H:== @44FC] p44@C5:?8 E@ +68C6’D C6D62C49[ E9:D >62?D <?@H:?8 H96C6 E@ 8@[ 9@H E@ AC@E64E J@FC AC@A6CEJ 2?5 92G:?8 C6D@FC46D :? A=246 — DF49 2D 7=@@5 :?DFC2?46 — 7@C H96? 2 7=@@5 5@6D 92AA6?]k^Am
kAm“(92E H6’C6 D66:?8 7C@> E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E :D 5:G6DE>6?E :? DE2E6D[ ?@E :?G6DE>6?E[” +68C6 D2:5] “&?56C E96 4FCC6?E 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ E96J’C6 8:G:?8 =6DD >@?6J E@ DE2E6D[ 2?5 D@ E96 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 AC@3=6> H:== C6>2:?[ 3FE H92E H6 42? 5@ :D H@C< H:E9 4@>>F?:E:6D E@ AC6A2C6 2?5 252AE E@ :?4C62D6D :? 7=@@5:?8]”k^Am
kAmu2:C>@?E r:EJ |2?286C %C2G:D q=@DD6C D2JD @FE52E65 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 A=2J65 2 >2;@C C@=6 :? 7=@@5:?8 :? 9:D 4:EJ @? yF?6 `d`e E9:D J62C]k^Am
kAm“%96 =62C?:?8 6IA6C:6?46 7C@> E92E :D E92E[ J6D[ E96C6 2C6 2C62D :?D:56 E96 4:EJ E92E H6C6 ?@E 56D:8?65 E@ 562= H:E9 E92E 2>@F?E @7 C2:?72== :? E92E D9@CE @7 E:>6 A6C:@5] %96C6 2C6 D6G6C2= 2C62D E92E H6 92G6 9@?65 :? @? E92E ?665 E@ D66 D@>6 255:E:@?2= :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ H9:49 E92E’D 8@:?8 E@ 4@DE >@?6J[ 2?5 D@ :E’D 7:8FC:?8 @FE H96C6 E9@D6 C6D@FC46D 2C6 4@>:?8 7C@> E@ 36 23=6 E@ >:E:82E6 E9@D6 :DDF6D[” q=@DD6C D2:5]k^Am
kAmpD +68C6 6IA=2:?65[ 7=@@5D E92E @?46 D66>65 C2C6 2C6 364@>:?8 >@C6 7C6BF6?E 2D :?4C62D65 2E>@DA96C:4 >@:DEFC6 3C:?8D 962G:6C C2:?72==[ C2:D:?8 E96 =:<6=:9@@5 @7 2??F2= 7=@@5:?8 :? D@>6 4@>>F?:E:6Dk^Am
kAm“,yF?6. H2D 2 @?46 :? 2 `[___ J62C 7=@@5 6G6?E] %96 AC@3=6> :D E92E 5@6D?’E >62? E92E J@F’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 2?@E96C @?6 F?E:= 2?@E96C `[___ J62CD 7C@> ?@H] (6’C6 D66:?8 E96D6 6G6?ED >@C6 2?5 >@C6 @7E6?[” q=@DD6C D2:5]k^Am
k9bm{24< @7 28C66>6?Ek^9bm
kAmq6J@?5 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 2?5 C2:?72==[ 7=@@5 C6D:=:6?46 :D 2=D@ D92A65 3J H96E96C 4@>>F?:E:6D 36=:6G6 :? E96 42FD6D @7 E96 AC@3=6> 2E 2==] s66A 5:G:D:@?D @G6C 4=:>2E6 492?86 2?5 5:DECFDE :? :?DE:EFE:@?D 42? =:>:E AF3=:4 DFAA@CE 7@C 252AE2E:@? 677@CED[ 6G6? 2D 7=@@5:?8 H@CD6?D 24C@DD E96 DE2E6]k^Am
kAm“r=:>2E6 492?86 92D 364@>6 2 G6CJ 4@?EC@G6CD:2= E@A:4 7@C =@ED @7 5:776C6?E C62D@?D[ 3FE H96? H6 6?8286 H:E9 25F=ED E9C@F89@FE (6DE ‘:C8:?:2[ 92=7 @7 E92E A@AF=2E:@? 56?:6D 4=:>2E6 492?86 :D 92AA6?:?8 @C E92E :E A@D6D 2 AC@3=6> 7@C E96>[” +68C6 D2:5] “qFE[ H96? H6 92G6 E92E D2>6 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 J@FE9 2?5 J@F?8 25F=ED :? E96 DE2E6[ E96J D2J 4=:>2E6 492?86 :D 92AA6?:?8 2?5 A@D6D 2 E9C62E E@ E96> 2?5 E96 H@C=5 E96J 2C6 8@:?8 E@ :?96C:E 7C@> @=56C 86?6C2E:@?D 2D E96J 8C@H FA]”k^Am
kAm+68C6 D2JD 9:D C6D62C49 A@:?ED E@ 4=:>2E6 492?86 2D E96 42FD6 @7 :?4C62D65 D6G6C6 H62E96C 6G6?ED[ 3FE :? >2?J (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 4@?G6CD2E:@?D H:E9 27764E65 A6@A=6 D9FE 5@H? 2E E96 >6?E:@? @7 E96 E@A:4] x?DE625[ +68C6 D2JD[ 96 7@4FD6D 9:D 4@?G6CD2E:@?D @? A6@A=6’D C62=\=:76 6IA6C:6?46D]k^Am
kAm“(96? J@F 2D< A6@A=6 E9C@F89@FE (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 23@FE E96:C 6IA6C:6?46D[ H92E E96J D2J :D[ V*6D[ E96 C2:? :D 86EE:?8 962G:6C H96? :E C2:?D] p?5 J6D[ :E D66>D E@ 36 92AA6?:?8 >@C6 7C6BF6?E=J] p?5 J6D[ :E D66>D =:<6 E9:D 4C66< E92E 7=@HD E9C@F89 >J AC@A6CEJ E92E H6 92G6 =:G65 :? 7@C D:I 86?6C2E:@?D[ ?6G6C 7=@@565 =:<6 E9:D[VQ +68C6 D2:5] Qp?5 D@ H96? H6 D:56DE6A E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? 2C@F?5 4=:>2E6 492?86 2?5 C62==J 7@4FD @? H92E A6@A=6 2C6 6IA6C:6?4:?8 C6D@F?5:?8=J E9C@F89@FE E96 DE2E6[ A6@A=6 D2J[ V*6D[ D@>6E9:?8 92D 492?865[ 2?5 :E’D 364@>:?8 >@C6 :?E6?D6]VQk^Am
kAmq=@DD6C D2JD 56DA:E6 5:D28C66>6?ED 23@FE 42FD6D[ 96 92D D66? 7:CDE92?5 (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 4@>>F?:E:6D DE:== 4@>6 E@86E96C E@ DFAA@CE 6249 @E96C :? E96 H2<6 @7 5:D2DE6C]k^Am
kAm“x H2D :>AC6DD65 2?5 2>2K65 3J E96 C6DA@?D6 @7 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ[ 3FE 6G6? >@C6 D@ A6@A=6 @FED:56 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ E92E A@FC65 :? H:E9 DFAA@CE[ 2?5 ?@E ;FDE E96 4:EJ @7 u2:C>@?E] $@ x >62?[ x E9:?< >J 3:886DE E2<62H2J 7C@> E96 6?E:C6 6IA6C:6?46 :D[ ?F>36C @?6[ H6 92G6 2>2K:?8 6>6C86?4J D6CG:46 A6CD@??6=[ 2?5 H6 92G6 2? 2>2K:?8 4@>>F?:EJ E92E C6DA@?5D :? E:>6D @7 ?665[” q=@DD6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm|@@C6 D2JD 86?6C2E:@?D =2E6C[ E92E 92D ?@E 492?865] x? `hgd[ D96 6IA6C:6?465 E96 D2>6 =6G6= @7 4@>>F?:EJ DFAA@CE]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< 4@>>F?:EJ 2=H2JD 96=AD[ 6DA64:2==J :? (6DE ‘:C8:?:2[ 3642FD6 E92E :D ;FDE H9@ (6DE ‘:C8:?:2?D 2C6] %96J 2C6 A6@A=6 H9@ 96=A 6249 @E96C :? E:>6D @7 ?665] p=H2JD[” |@@C6 D2:5]k^Am