Cord Byrd: “Mother Nature has once again, as I have seen so many times, dealt West Virginia a heavy blow. For more than a week…”

“Mother Nature has once again, as I have seen so many times, dealt West Virginia a heavy blow. For more than a week, heavy rains have spawned flash floods and mudslides. The storms have resulted in millions of dollars in damages to homes and businesses in Central and Southern West Virginia, damage so significant that yesterday Governor Bob Wise requested a Federal disaster declaration for then counties. His request seeks Federal aid for Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mingo, Putnam, and Wayne counties. The need for help is abundantly clear. Hundreds and hundreds of homes have been washed away or significantly damaged because of the storms. Mudslides continue to threaten communities nestled along West Virginia's many mountains, mudslides that could be triggered with just a little more rain or a little more wind. Thousands of West Virginians have been without power, without telephone service, and without utility service. Bridges and roads have literally been wiped off the map, isolating communities that already are working to pick themselves up from this devastation. Make no mistake, West Virginians are committed to rebuilding. So many times I have seen them after a flood, if the homes were still standing, go right back into those homes, or, if the homes were gone, building another home and going right back into those homes. So they are committed to rebuilding their lives. But they need help to get back on their feet.”