Bob Wise: “today West Virginia is digging out from a record flood, just like your State of Pennsylvania, and like other areas of…”

“today West Virginia is digging out from a record flood, just like your State of Pennsylvania, and like other areas of the mid-Atlantic. I want to report to Congress today on our efforts and to ask for assistance. Mr. Speaker, this was a true bicoastal flood for our State, going from the Ohio River all the way to the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, from border to border of our State. The Governor, during the weekend, declared 29 of our 55 counties in a state of emergency. Thousands have been driven from their homes or had their homes and jobs threatened. Water systems have been damaged, sewer systems have been compromised. Businesses in some cases have been wiped out, others will take a while to resume. Highways in some cases have been washed out. From Friday night, beginning Friday night in the basement of the State capital and the State Office of Emergency Services office, I have tried to monitor and follow this flood as closely as possible. From Friday night, with the State OES personnel, to traveling with the Governor on Saturday to our hardest hit central West Virginia counties, to going Sunday night to Mason County to watch the Ohio River as it began its relentless rise, and then yesterday back across the State to Jefferson County where I watched the swollen Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers as they began to recede, I can testify about how awesome and how devastating this flood has been for many of our people.”