TOWN OF ALDERSON POST OFFICE BOX 179 CITY BUILDING—202 SOUTH MONROE STREET ALDERSON, WEST VIRGINIA 24910 TELEPHONE (304) 445-2916

Contact:  Mayor Travis Copenhaver 304-445-2916 / Margaret Hambrick 304-646-2439

A Message From The Mayor As   I   sit   here   and   write   this,   I   feel   defeated.   But   honestly,   I   guess   it   is   a   good   thing.   We   met   with   WV Division   of   Emergency   Management   and   the   Division   of   Highways.   In   order   to   work   towards   a   Federal Disaster Declaration, the damages must amount to roughly $2.8 million dollars. Our   hopes   were   that   the   three   counties   (Monroe,   Summers,   and   Greenbrier)   highways   damages   and   our local   damages   would   put   us   over   the   necessary   amount.   That   is   not   the   case.   The   DOH   part   of   the equation is about $900,000. Town infrastructure and home loss is estimated between $500-700,000. The   positive   side   is,   damages   were   not   that   bad.   The   negative   is   that   the   town   and   those   people   who have loss/damages won’t be able to receive FEMA assistance. We   are   blessed   that   the   National   Guard   is   here   to   help   get   rid   of   debris.   As   such,   our   town   staff   is committed   to   doing   the   right   thing   and   continuing   to   assist   them,   it’s   coming   from   an   already   strapped general fund. It won’t be reimbursed from public assistance. If   you   were   in   the   meeting   this   morning,   you   would   have   seen   the   pleading   and   conjuring   every   possible way to try to get this to reach the FEMA level, it just isn’t enough. There   are   about   10   structures   that   could   possibly   be   condemned.   However,   in   light   of   no   assistance   in doing,   the   burden   of   clean   up   and   demolition   would   be   on   the   property   owner.   We   are   working   to   try   to avoid any that are not an immediate threat to life safety. So   where   are   we   now?   The   only   hope   that   I   can   say   there   is   the   Greater   Greenbrier   Long-Term   Recovery Committee.   Kayla   and   her   team   are   amazing. They   are   here   for   us. As   you   see   their   efforts   for   fundraising, have no doubt that it is going directly to where it is vitally needed. I   wish   I   was   able   to   wave   the   magic   money   wand   and   make   things   perfect,   but   the   sad   reality   is   the   wand doesn’t exist. I also wish there was something more that my staff and I could do, but we can’t. So,   I’ll   leave   this   to   neighbors,   friends,   and   anyone   who   sees   the   post,   if   you   can   make   any   size   donation to    help    those    affected,    make    it    to    The    Greater    Greenbrier    Long-Term    Recovery    Committee.    Unlike National response agencies, your dollar goes where it’s needed. It is my prayer that God continue to bless our Town and these United States in our greatest time of need. Travis L. Copenhaver, Mayor