MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Morgantown area has suffered damage during major rain events in June and July. On June 13, residents in the Suncrest area reported as much as six inches of rain in about a three hour period, then July 29 another similar rain hit the same area.
On both occasions, motorists were helped from stalled cars in flood waters in Patteson Drive. MECCA-911 Director Jim Smith said during the July 29 event several homes and business owners reported significant damage due to rapid rainfall. Additionally, DOH facilities including a bridge in Star City also suffered serious damage.
” We have anywhere from 50 to 100 homes that were impacted from the storm event,” Smith said,” We know we have multiple businesses impacted from it.”
Residents who suffered damage are asked to complete the assessment forms before Wednesday, August 11 out at MECCA911.org.
“What we’re trying to do is get a local declaration in Monongalia County to see if we can open up for some FEMA money,” Smith said.
MUB released the following information on their website:
“Rainfall amounts at our water treatment plant measured more than 4 inches. In other places across Morgantown, 6.5 inches of rain fell. Like the June 13th event, this amount of rainfall surpassed the flow capacity of stormwater systems designed to manage rain events of lesser intensity. This is no fault of MUB’s system. Such acts of nature are simply beyond what any reasonably constructed system could be expected to manage.”
“Like they said the very first time,” Smith said,” It was something we would see every 100-years, we have seen now twice in less than two months.”
Residents will have the coming days to complete the forms for local and federal review.
“Go to MECCA-911.Org– go to damage assessment reports and please fill out those reports,” Smith said.”