SMITHERS, W.Va. — Smithers Mayor Anne Cavalier says her city is moving forward with infrastructure projects following the Aug. 15 flood in Fayette County.
Cavalier told MetroNews repairing damaged sewer lines in the Cannelton Hollow Road area is one of her top priorities with money now flowing in from the federal government.
“Those things that were broken and swept away, such as sewer lines, roads, bridges, those are the very first things we’re addressing,” she said.
Last week, Fayette County was granted public disaster assistance from the Biden administration. Kanawha County, which also experienced flood damage from the same storm, was denied assistance.
The damage to Fayette County’s sewer system in the Smithers area alone far exceeded the county’s threshold, Cavalier said.
“In parts of our city, we still can see the flood damage. We have families that can’t return to house. We have roads that are crippled. We have a creek that is still full of cars, trucks and trees,” she said.
The mayor said the city wants to hire an engineering firm to fix the sewer lines first.
“As soon as that engineer is on board, then their first role will be to assess what the damage is,” she said.
Cavalier said the selected engineering firm will need be approved by City Council at their next meeting set for Dec. 12 at 6 p.m.
Being approved for federal assistance meant a lot to Cavalier because she said it will help her city’s residents recover and prepare for future flooding events.
“It really hit me right in the heart that we can now start addressing all of these problems and find ways to help our community rebuild, regroup and even prepare for the future,” she said.
Kanawha County had originally submitted $974,000 in damages for public infrastructure damage including stream damage on Campbells Creek and Hughes Creek.
Both Fayette and Kanawha were denied individual assistance for homeowners.
The flood in Fayette County also impacted the Scrabble Creek area of Gauley Bridge. In total, more than 100 homes along with roads and bridges north of U.S. Route 60 in Kanawha and Fayette counties were damaged. There was no loss of life.
Cavalier said a temporary bridge has been installed at Carbondale Road and Smithers Creek.