West Virginia legislative committee to examine flood relief program

Many residents impacted by the June 2016 floods are still waiting for help from the West Virginia Rise program, Senate President Mitch Carmichael and House Speaker Tim Armstead said in a letter to Sen. Ed Gaunch and Delegate Roger Hanshaw, co-chairmen of the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding.

“Many questions and concerns have arisen regarding the management of the West Virginia Rise program, contracts awarded by the program and use of funding the program is charged with administering,” the letter dated Wednesday said.

Storms starting around June 23, of an intensity meteorologists said occur only every 1,000 years, caused flooding and widespread damage in southern West Virginia. At least 15 people were killed, including a 4-year-old boy in Jackson County.

The West Virginia Press Association, which represents newspapers in West Virginia, on Wednesday reported Gov. Jim Justice ordered a review of the administration of the funding. Among the issues was a $17 million payment to Horne LLP that Mike Carey, a former U.S. Attorney and independent counsel, found “problematic.”

“We are, therefore, requesting that the Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding hold one or more public meetings to examine management of the West Virginia Rise program at the earliest opportunity,” Armstead and Carmichael said in the letter.

In a separate related issue, Armstead asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state superintendent of schools, the West Virginia School Building Authority and the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety to review and expedite the time schedules to rebuild schools, including the construction of Clendenin-Bridge Elementary and Herbert Hoover High schools.

“As you are aware, students in this area have been through a tremendous ordeal and it is essential we provide them access to the completed classrooms as quickly as possible,” Armstead said.