CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Rural communities across West Virginia are expanding local flood relief and long‑term recovery programs, drawing on lessons learned from the state’s devastating 2016 floods that killed 23 people and caused more than $1 billion in damage.
That summer, repeated rounds of intense rainfall struck Clay, Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas counties, with some areas receiving up to 10 inches of rain in less than 12 hours — an event experts described as a rare 1,000‑year flood.
Dave Lumsden, chair of West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, helped establish a multi‑county long‑term recovery committee in the aftermath.
“That’s a FEMA model that’s recommended for communities to go ahead and address not just the immediate response and rescue but how you go about doing long‑term recovery,” Lumsden said.
Last year’s flooding made 2025 the state’s worst year for flood events since 2016. In response, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a $6 million initiative with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen flood mitigation and recovery planning.
Lumsden emphasized that natural disasters can push small, rural towns with aging populations to the brink, and that volunteer engagement must continue long after federal agencies depart.
“You can’t just stop with rescue and response and look at recovery,” he said. “If you’re not addressing the needs of the small business community, these little towns will dry up and blow away.”
Research from West Virginia University projects that some counties could see an 18% increase in flood risk by 2050, underscoring the need for sustained local preparedness and investment.
