National Guard Provides Home Demo - Stop-Gap Measures Ensure Continuity of Care Between Contracts

Photo By Sgt. Zoe Morris | Members of the WVNG provide home demolition for citizens of White Sulphur Springs after the June 2016 flooding that tore through the town. This is a stop-gap measure between the debris removal contracts and home and personal property demolition contracts throughout the affected counties. Citizens wishing to apply for free home and personal property demo should call their county Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV, UNITED STATES

08.29.2016

Story by Sgt. Zoe Morris 

153rd Public Affairs Detachment

Sgt. Zoe Morris
153rd PAD
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. -- Members of the West Virginia National Guard began home demolition in White Sulphur Springs Saturday, Aug. 21. Citizens of the town wishing to have their homes demolished contacted the Greenbrier County Dept. of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
According to Cpt. Justin McIntire with the WVNG, “The home demolition and personal property debris removal efforts, currently being conducted by the West Virginia National Guard in Greenbrier County, are part of the Governor’s long term recovery plan for the Counties affected by the severe flooding that took place at the end of June.”
McIntire, a Greenbrier County native, said the National Guard is acting as a stop-gap between the end of the debris management contracts and the demolition and personal property debris removal contracts that are going out for bid in the next few weeks.
“This is the same as the transition from the Guard to contracted flood debris removal,” he said.
Any homeowner who has been affected by the flooding that took place at the end of June, and is wanting demolition to occur, is encouraged to talk with their county DHSEM and request their home be inspected to see if they meet the eligibility requirements.
This includes homes that have already been demolished by volunteer organizations during the initial cleanup efforts, or home that were washed off the original homeowner’s property.
Those homes approved for demolition go through a very detailed process, beginning with the most important piece, the homeowner making a request for demolition through the county, according to McIntire. Every home must be approved by the county and state, and must meet FEMA eligibility, before any demolition begins.
“We are not condemning properties,” McIntire stated. “ Rather we are responding to requests for assistance.”
McIntire said the contract is being finalized before it goes out for bid.

To Request Home/Personal Property Demolition, Contact Home-County Dept. of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Clay - 304-587-4259
Fayette - 304-574-1610 l/m
Greenbrier - 304-647-9930
Kanawha - 304-357-0570
Nicholas - 304-872-7892
Roane - 304-927-0918
Summers - 304-466-5613
Webster - 304-847-2122

• Date Taken: 08.29.2016
• Date Posted: 08.30.2016 10:19
• Story ID: 208484
• Location: WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV, US