The Day the Music Died

 

 

Pocahontas County was among the 12 counties in West Virginia to receive a federal disaster declaration following the June 2016 floods. While designated as a "Non-Most Impacted or Distressed" (NMID) county compared to neighbors like Greenbrier, it suffered significant localized damage to its infrastructure, residential areas, and river systems.

Human and Residential Impact

• Marlinton: In the county seat, the Greenbrier River crested at 12 feet. Flooding affected multiple residential and commercial areas, specifically 1st, 4th, and 5th Avenues, along with 8th and 9th Streets.

• Emergency Services: Local officials reported that the county "weathered the storm well" compared to harder-hit neighbors, though they noted the county "dodged a bullet" as initially forecasted river levels were lower than the actual crest.

• Displacement: Some residents were required to seek temporary housing, and officials warned against driving through the widespread high water and mudslides that hindered travel throughout the county.

Infrastructure and Road Damage

• Government Buildings: The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) office on Route 219 north of Marlinton was inundated with 19 inches of water.

• Roadways and Bridges: Williams River Road sustained heavy damage, and the Tea Creek Trail bridge was completely destroyed. High water also damaged the bridge leading to the Buckskin Scout Reservation in Dunmore, briefly leaving staff and campers stranded.

• Utility Outages: Approximately 1,800 customers in the county were left without electricity during the peak of the storm.

Waste Management and Environmental Cleanup

• Landfill Capacity: As of 2020, the Pocahontas County Landfill was estimated to have a remaining life expectancy of 11 years, which was the second-lowest in the state after Kanawha County.

• 2016 Tonnage: During the year of the flood, the facility processed 6,937.82 tons of waste, which included approximately 940 tons of "Other Waste" (construction, demolition, and bulky debris). Unlike the Greenbrier facility, which operated at over 99% of its annual permitted capacity in 2016, the Pocahontas facility utilized roughly 41% of its permitted capacity that year.

• Stream Remediation: In November 2016, the 2016 Severe Storm Cleanup Program launched a dedicated stream clearing initiative in the county. Crews worked to remove tangled flood debris and trash from streambanks along Knapps Creek and other waterways to restore their aesthetic value and prevent future obstructions.

Recovery and Economic Costs

• Emergency Funding: The Pocahontas County Commission spent approximately $600,000 from its emergency fund to manage debris cleanup, coordinate volunteers, and operate pickup sites.

• RISE WV Projects: The RISE West Virginia program targeted specific structures for removal to eliminate "slum and blight" caused by the flood. Notable projects included a $150,000 grant for the demolition of the former Bank of Hillsboro building.

• Public Assistance: The county also received assistance for repairs to public facilities, including projects at the Pocahontas County EMS 911 Center and the Handley Wildlife Management Area.