(alps ?lmed}: {If 3332251 Eirginia

 

September 18, 2019
Dear Chairman Swope and Chairman Jeffries:

Thank you for serving as the C0~Chairs of the Joint Committee on Flooding. We believe the
committee?s work is vital to the citizens we represent, and we know you feel the same way. We
strongly believe we are all on the same team.

The Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding is statutorily charged with studying ?ood damage
reduction and ?oodplain management. It is our duty to make recommendations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance of initiatives to reduce the threat of future loss of life
and property associated with ?ooding.

Code 4-15-1.)

We write to share a list of major issues we regularly hear from constituents which fall under the
jurisdiction of the committee. Many were listed in previous communications, but some have
surfaced as the effects of ?ooding continue across our state. We believe our committee must
address these important topics by placing them on our agenda in the near future. We are willing
to meet as often as necessary to do this work.

1. Schools
Issue: We ?rst addressed schools this past spring, which was informative. Several folks
are diving into details, which is helpful. We need prolonged attention to ensure the
process moves forward. We will continue to encounter delays, and must be prepared to
act.

Recommendation: Hold a committee meeting/public hearing in an affected community,
such as Clendenin or Nicholas County. Invite FEMA, county schools, SBA, and


2. Slum and Blight
Issue 1: Jennifer Ferrell touched on blight at our last meeting. After, local emergency
management of?cials reached out to us to say what she said did not align with what
they?ve been told.

Recommendation: We need to drill down on where the money is, what it will be used
for, and how that will be a mitigation project.

Issue 2: The information distribution system used to communicate with local EMOs is
not suf?cient.

Recommendation: Invite local EM of?cials and Ms. Ferrell to our next meeting to
discuss tearing down dilapidated buildings. It also may be bene?cial to invite the 
Brown?elds Assistance Team.

3. State Resiliency Of?ce Reorganization
Issue: In 2017, the SRO was created by statute to provide mitigation. They hired their
?rst employee in 2019, but have yet to hold a public meeting.

Recommendation: Request an update on the SRO from its statutory leader, Secretary
Gaunch, so we may clarify how it functions, and how we relate to it. Legislation will
likely be required to clarify roles/duties/members.

4. Flood Control Dams
Issue: Our ?ood control dams, most of which are earthen, badly need repairs. The
Conservation Agency received an additional $2 million toward repairs this year.

Recommendation: Schedule a summer meeting at Tuckahoe Dam in White Sulphur
Springs. Invite Brian Farkas to discuss plans for improvements throughout the state.

5. Prevention Policies
Issue: State code requires us to study and propose ways to ?prevent? ?ooding in the
future. We have yet to address prevention.

Recommendation: Hold a roundtable during fall 2019 on flood prevention strategies with
committee members, WVDEP, WVCA, WVDA, Association of Counties, Floodplain

Managers Association, and the WV Rivers Coalition. Develop ideas for bills to introduce
in 2020.

6. Housing
Issue: We have never talked with HUD, which controls the funding, and Thompson
Construction, the contractor responsible for the majority of projects.

Recommendation: Schedule a meeting with HUD and Thompson to ensure we?re taking
proper steps to Spend funds. If scheduling is an issue, appoint a subcommittee.

7. Municipal and Community Partners
Issue: Towns and non?pro?ts, such as do the work of recovery with affected
citizens. Yet, they are disconnected from state conversations about recovery.

Recommendations:

. Hold Joint Committee on Flooding meetings in affected communities and invite these
partners to speak;

1' Devote a portion of our meeting time to hearing from these partners;

. Include these partners in the work of the SRO.
8. Meetings
Issue: No single entity serves as the central hub for recovery communications. We can be

that hub if we meet regularly.

Recommendation: Meet at least once per month. Set a schedule so members and
partners may plan, and we may get a quorum.

We hope our overview of these major issues will prove helpful. Please contact us with questions
or for conversation. We believe we all want to help ?ood survivors recover as quickly as
possible, and prepare our state for the next time disaster strikes.

Sincerely,

?an

Senator Stephen Baldwin Senator Glenn Jeffries