When the floods in 2016 hit Clay County, damage was done to so many buildings, bridges, structures, roads, etc. Here we are, almost two years later and there are still repairs and construction happening to get things back to the way they were before.

West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WV VOAD) is teaming together with other organizations to help people get things built back to help them get back to normal lives.

Mr. Clinton Nichols (wife Beverly) has struggled since the flood waters and debris from a neighbors outbuilding, which was destroyed in the flood waters, washed down the creek and knocked the decking loose on his bridge, causing it to wash out. Flood waters were so high that they reached the front door of Nichols’ home. A simple everyday activity like bringing in groceries was extremely difficult without proper access to their home. Mr. Nichols was working on rebuilding his bridge back and fell and broke his hip, which landed him in the hospital for several weeks. Word traveled in the community and organizations gathered together to get construction on his bridge complete.

The Executive Director of WV VOAD, Jenny Gannaway, and members from United Way of West Virginia, Mennonite Disaster Services, teamed together to provide the extra funding and the volunteer labor work that was needed to complete Mr. Nichols’ bridge. Within a week of beginning construction, the bridge was finished! It was/is a team effort to get these projects accomplished, but they are finished without second guessing or questioning.

Mr. Nichols’ bridge was the 39^th bridge to be completed in West Virginia. The 48^th bridge is now in construction, and there are 10-12 more on the list ready to start construction. WV VOAD has around 100 cases open in Clay County alone.

Friday, January 19, 2018, the volunteers from each organization who helped Mr. Nichols and are working on other projects, gathered to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for Mr. Nichols’ bridge. A huge thank you to everyone involved, but those in attendance who need a big thank you are as follows: Jenny Gannaway, Executive Director with WV VOAD, Rodney Burkholder with Mennonite Disaster Services, Margaret O’Neil with United Way, Michael Austin, Donovan Sloan, Ben Cisco, Brian Aluise, Regional Coordinator with Senator Manchins office.

Thank you to everyone involved in getting this project completed and for all of your work around West Virginia helping get things back to normal for so many people!