BECKLEY, W.Va. – Working with the West Virginia National Guard, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-W.Va.) toured southern West Virginia communities on Monday and met with officials in County Emergency Operations Centers for briefings and damage assessments on areas hit by strong storms that swept through the region last Friday, and today issued the following statement:
"Let us all hope this is a once in a lifetime attack from Mother Nature. The size and scope of this recent storm has certainly stymied the response mechanisms upon which we have traditionally relied. When coupled with the struggles involving power outages many families faced last winter after a wave of snow storms, the costs financially and emotionally mount up.
"I am coordinating closely with Federal, State and local officials to get water moving to the most needy areas. It is our most essential staple and one we in West Virginia are used to having in surplus.
"After we are back up and running, I think it would be useful to explore how we might address vulnerabilities in the electric grid that increasingly serves as a lifeline for entire communities, as well as, giving thought to our emergency stockpiles and evacuation plans. Let's face it, the longer families are without power, the more volatile health issues become, especially in a sustained hot spell like this one.
"Without everyone pitching in, sharing their time and talents and their homes, we wouldn't be doing half as well as we are. We still have a long road ahead, but we West Virginians deeply appreciate the help and generosity of friends old and new from all over the country."
Helpful links to important information related to storm recovery operations can be found on Rahall's website at: http://rahall.house.gov/press-release/important-information-southern-west-virginians
