Community support sought for flood relief in southern WV

July 11th, 2001

West Virginia Universitys Extension Service is seeking community support to assist with clean-up efforts in flood-ravaged southern West Virginia.

Starting today, donated cleaning supplies can be delivered to Extension’s Federal Excess Property Warehouse, 130 Tower Lane. (From downtown campus, go over the Westover Bridge and turn right. The warehouse is past the building that is the former home of General Woodworking.)

The following items are needed and can be dropped off at the Federal Excess Property Warehouse:

  • All types of cleaning supplies, including brooms, mops, buckets, sponges, scrub brushes, soaps and disinfectants (ammonia, chlorine bleach), thick rubber gloves, trash bags, shovels, etc.
  • Bottled water, non-perishable foods, and personal hygiene items.
  • Disposable diapers, new underwear (still in the package) and rubber boots. Other clothing is not a need at this time.
  • Small toys, crayons, etc., for children.

The Extension Service will make its first Morgantown-assisted delivery to damaged communities on Monday, July 16.

County-based WVU Extension faculty already have begun collecting for and coordinating deliveries.

WVU Jackson’s Mill in Lewis County is serving as a collection center for the community and for those Extension volunteers and 4-H members who are traveling to the lifelong learning center to participate in previously scheduled events.

“The weekend flood in southern West Virginia had a devastating impact on families and businesses, and have affected some of our own employees,”explained Larry Cote, associate provost and director of the WVU Extension Service.”The first order of priority is to get our offices in the area functional as soon as possible and, together, begin doing what Extension does best: provide reliable information to citizens to help with flood recovery.”

Dr. Cote noted that Extension’s Intranet Web site has updated its flood recovery links for faculty and staff. Extension’s public Web site’s opening page (http://www.wvu.edu/~exten/) features links to critical flood relief agencies.

The Red Cross and Catholic Community Services are among the agencies and businesses in the Morgantown area that are collecting supplies. Check local papers for other collection sites. For more information about WVU ’s efforts, contact the Office of Extension Human Resources at 304-293-4555.