The American Red Cross listed two homes destroyed after weekend rains caused high water in Lawrence County.

Thursday, February 24, 2000

The American Red Cross listed two homes destroyed after weekend rains caused high water in Lawrence County.

A Red Cross team conducted a damage assessment Tuesday, listing assistance given to 24 adults and 18 minors, county coordinator Annabelle Jenkins said.

"This is the worst damage since the 1997 flood," Mrs. Jenkins said. "I don’t think anyone expected the rain we got."

One destroyed mobile home along Symmes Creek near Sky Lake in Chesapeake filled three-fourths full of water during the flood, and it was three to four feet off the ground, she said.

The other home was located on Sharp’s Creek.

Two houses suffered major damage and one suffered minor damage, Mrs. Jenkins said.

"I think the county needs patted on the back because a lot of homeowners that I normally would have had to help, I did not," she said. "I contribute that to the floodplain management program. Awareness of the floodplain is helping."

County officials say Friday’s heavy rains sent emergency workers scrambling to help residents and have led to potential drinking water problems for trustees.

The Lawrence County 911/Emergency Management Agency lists six car rescues and 12 home rescues that occurred because of high water, director Don Mootz said.

There was one animal rescue, three calls for traffic control and one tree removed from a roadway, he added.

"We had a few calls on contaminated wells that we’ve been referring to township trustees," Mootz said.

There are ways to get drinking water to residents but they should contact their trustees, he said.

The Red Cross has 13 flood damage cases still open, Mrs. Jenkins said.

Those cases are in Union, Aid, Perry, Upper, Windsor and Elizabeth townships and in South Point, where Ohio River tributaries like Symmes Creek and Paddy Creek rose fast after the rains, she said.

Three families are elderly people who can’t make repairs and no local agencies have financial assistance available, Mrs. Jenkins said.

"The Red Cross is making a plea for churches or youth groups willing to donate materials and labor to come forward," she said. "Most of the work needed is either roofing or floor replacement."

Also, the Red Cross is still taking applications for assistance with lodging, groceries, bedding, cleanup kits and other supplies, Mrs. Jenkins said.

"If you have any damage and need help from us, you should call us by Friday," she said. "If you wait later, that may be stretching it."

For assistance or to donate to flood victim relief contact the West Virginia office of the Red Cross at 304-526-2900.

Meanwhile, at least one county commissioner is seeking help of a different kind for possible problems from future heavy rain.

"This is the worst I’ve seen it flood out here in a long time," said commissioner Paul Herrell, who lives at Aid.

"Down below Portsmouth, there was hardly any water at all and up this way it backed up from the river," Herrell said. "I can’t see any way other than the (U.S. Army) Corps of Engineers is leaving the dam gates closed too long at the locks and dams."

Not releasing more water during heavy rains could cause tributaries between the locks to back up as the Ohio River backs up, he said.

Commissioners plan to send a letter to Corps officials today, asking them to review water release procedures, Herrell said.