Patrick Morrisey highlighted two major water-related concerns affecting West Virginia on Friday.
He announced $9.5 million in grant funding to support five water and sewer improvement projects in Mingo and McDowell counties, including plans to build a new water storage tank in Kermit.
Access to safe drinking water remains a pressing challenge in the southern coalfields. Flooding also continues to threaten communities, and Morrisey used the water-focused event to promote a flood warning proposal he first introduced during his State of the State address, as the anniversary of last year’s devastating mid-February flood approaches.
“First rule is to save lives,” Morrisey said. “Well that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The proposed Smart Environmental Notification Threat Response System would operate as a $10 million pilot program over 36 months, designed to strengthen flood forecasting and emergency response. The coalfields have endured deadly floods in the past, including heavy rains beginning Feb. 15 that led to widespread flooding through Feb. 18.
“The loss of property is one thing,” McDowell County Commissioner Michael Brooks said. “The loss of lives that we encountered is something you’ll never forget and hearts and prayers go out for those families as well.”
Morrisey must still secure legislative approval for the initiative, a challenge as the session has already reached its midpoint.
The system would launch in nine watersheds over a three-year trial period before expanding statewide if successful. It would rely on artificial intelligence, rain gauges and wind data to monitor waterways and issue flood warnings one to six hours in advance.
“It is in some of the higher risk areas of the state,” Acting State Emergency Management Director Dr. Matt Blackwood said. “Those areas most prone to historical flooding, but we are also looking at areas that offer different topography.”
The Smart Environmental Notification Threat Response System centers on one primary goal: protecting lives.