St. Marys Riverside Drive Funded For Immediate Fix 

Release Date: October 4, 2004
Release Number: 1558-030

» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- Federal and state disaster recovery officials announced today that the City of St. Marys has been approved for $175,000 to fund provisional repairs for flood damage to Riverside Drive.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will pick up 75-percent of the cost of these provisional measures, while West Virginia pays the remaining 25-percent.

“FEMA works in close partnership with state and local officials to assure emergency protective measures are taken to eliminate immediate threats to the public, including work on unsafe structures,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Lou Botta of FEMA.

“This project exemplifies the mission of our Public Assistance mission and provides a direct benefit to citizens,” said State Coordinating Officer Steve Kappa of the West Virginia Office of Emergency Services (WVOES).

Roadway pavement was dramatically undercut and left hanging after heavy rains fell on September 17 and continued into subsequent days, causing the Ohio River to overflow.

The provisional road repairs are funded to protect infrastructure that is critical to the health and safety of area residents. The road provides access to the area by emergency vehicles and other life preserving functions. Without these provisional repairs, public health and safety could be threatened.

Although this residential street in Pleasants County will need permanent repairs, the provisional phase of the project will be accomplished under the leadership of the City of St. Marys, which will contract the work.

Emergency Protective Measures are actions taken by local government in disaster situations to protect public health and safety and prevent damage to improved public and private property. In the Riverside Drive project, minimal repairs are proposed to reinforce and fill gaps in the embankment and restore the roadway.

Under WVOES and the FEMA Public Assistance program, additional funding could be approved for work performed to restore this damaged road to its pre-storm condition and possibly mitigate future reoccurrences.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 05-Oct-2004 09:44:04