FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Members of the Marion County School System have already started the first steps towards fixing up portions of schools affected by the Father’s Day flash floods.
Marion County School Superintendent Donna Heston offered an update on the early cleanup efforts that began as early as Sunday afternoon, not long after three inches of rain hit the area in less than an hour. Once the hard rain subsided, it was discovered that five school buildings received some level of flooding, with over a dozen classrooms affected in certain facilities.
“We’re always watchful for the northern end of the county, but this was new for the five schools impacted due to flooding,” said Heston. “Our most pronounced impact is at Monongah Elementary School, where we had about 14 classrooms impacted.”
According to Heston, the flooding at Monongah Elementary School was considered the most extensive once a damage assessment took place between Sunday and Monday. Damage was also found in classrooms at Monongah Middle School and the gymnasium at Barrackville Elementary/Middle School, with high water seen at Jayenne Elementary School, East Fairmont High School, and East Park Elementary School. While the total damage inventory is still ongoing, early assessments showed that numerous ceiling repairs and school material replacements will be needed along with an extensive cleaning of dozens of classrooms.
“Monongah Middle School had four classrooms that were impacted, and Barrickville Elementary/Middle School, we experienced some floods inside those school areas,” said Heston. “As well as Jayenne Elementary School and East Park and East Fairmont High School.”
Heston also noted that damage at Barrickville Elementary/Middle was compounded by past flooding issues over the storms that have taken place over the past few months.
Despite the large amount of water that damaged all five of the Marion County schools hit by the flooding, there’s an expectation that it will not hinder any long-term programming. This will include the continuation of summer programming that officially kicked off in June as well as the start of the 2025-26 school year, which currently has all five schools scheduled to be fully opened in August. This was due to the fast work of Marion County School System employees who responded to the facilities less than an hour after the rain stopped.
“We don’t anticipate having to close any classrooms at this time, and it really is because of the hard, diligent work,” said Heston. “And the outside experts that we’re consulting with to ensure that we don’t have to close any classrooms or areas.”
As part of the recovery efforts, Heston added that communications were started with both state officials and local emergency crews. This included direct interactions with Governor Patrick Morrisey’s administration while a tour of the damage was given on Monday as well as conversations with Marion County Homeland Security Director Chris Mcintire. As a final inventory of how much needs to get done to have the five schools ready by the start of the school year, Heston is grateful to have support from both a state and federal governing body, as well as from hardworking employees within the Marion County School System.
“We are assessing all of that—ceiling tiles, carpets, classroom items,” said Heston. “And really just focusing on some heightened cleaning so that those areas are provided for.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: The original story included a misquote that mentioned FEMA External Affairs Director James McIntyre instead of Marion County Homeland Security Director Chris Mcintire . The error has been corrected.