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The devastating flooding that recently swept across West Virginia and beyond is another heartbreaking reminder that our region is no stranger to natural disasters. Last week, torrential rain triggered catastrophic flash flooding, forcing dozens of water rescues and leaving a long road to recovery for many. As our thoughts and hearts are with the communities affected, our deepest gratitude goes to the courage displayed by first responders, the National Guard, volunteers and neighbors helping neighbors at this time.
The recent storms demonstrated how quickly aging infrastructure can become overwhelmed. In some locations, rainfall reached an extraordinary level in less than an hour, overwhelming drainage systems and creating emergency rescue situations.
While our immediate focus is on supporting recovery in these communities, our state leaders must also prioritize flood resilience in the near future. Flood resilience is more than rebuilding after a disaster. It is a real investment in flood mitigation and storm water management infrastructure. That's why WV Rivers continues to advocate for policies and investments that help communities prepare before disaster strikes.
Earlier this month, we presented on a flood resiliency webinar hosted by Reimagine Appalachia and the Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition featuring experts and community leaders discussing practical solutions for reducing flood risk, strengthening infrastructure, and improving community prepared.
We'll continue the conversation with another webinar "Responding While Recovering -- Storm Recovery Futures Amid Ongoing Disaster" on Aug. 4 at 2 p.m., where we'll explore additional tools, resources, and strategies that can help communities become safer and more resilient in the face of future flooding events with our regional partners. You can register for this webinar at wvrivers.org
Recovery takes all of us working together to inspire a lasting commitment to flood mitigation and a safer future for everyone.
Charlise Robinson is Ohio River Coordinator, West Virginia Rivers Coalition.