Breaking News
Community

Brooke County EMA Director Bob Fowler Serving In Flooded Nicholas County

By WARREN SCOTT For The Intelligencer 2 min read
Photo by Jackie McDermott Teachers, parents and students from Ritchie Elementary School and Wheeling Middle School come together Wednesday to collect supplies for two schools left with virtually nothing after flooding devastated southern West Virginia in June. The supplies from the drive will be distributed to Birch River Elementary School and Trinity Baptist Academy. Imperial Teacher Store of Wheeling has pledged to match all supplies collected. Working Wednesday, from left, are Amy Hutchison, Makayla Cox, Wheeling Middle School teacher Jenny Craig, Grace Moore, Joselyn Waterhouse, Jessie Waterhouse, Ruth Bankey, Renee Marchese and Mary Palma.

In perhaps the worst possible time to be without its emergency management director, Nicholas County -- one of the hardest-hit counties in the devastating June 23 flood that swept through much of West Virginia -- is getting some help from a Northern Panhandle neighbor.

Brooke County EMA Director Bob Fowler has been serving as interim director in Nicholas County after being appointed by the state Office of Emergency Management. Fowler will return to Brooke County after a permanent director is named.

Fowler traveled south a few weeks ago with several staff members and a handful of vehicles from the Brooke County Ambulance Service to aid with flood recovery efforts.

He said tasks performed by the Brooke County staff, including two paramedics and four emergency medical technicians, have included assisting local emergency crews in administering tetanus shots at National Guard disaster recovery centers and providing counseling and information to many affected by the flood.

Fowler said with hundreds of houses severely damaged, many residents are coping with the possible demolition of their homes or extensive repairs that could include raising them above the floodplain to meet conditions established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

He said about 300 FEMA staff members have come to West Virginia to assist those affected.

"It's just a very, very sad situation," Fowler said, noting a large percentage of the county was already impoverished before the flood.

But he said the spirit of the residents has been inspirational.

"The people of Nicholas County have been wonderful. It's just amazing how people are pulling together and working together," Fowler said.

Fowler said relief efforts have meant long days for everyone involved. It's not uncommon to gather with other officials at 6 a.m. and turn in for the night at 2 a.m., he said.

"It's an intense, hour-to-hour, minute-to-minute operation," said Fowler, who had returned home for a few days.

Fowler said FEMA is expected to reimburse Nicholas County for his services, but there are limitations on the number of hours that can be compensated.

He said while he's away, Brooke County's deputy EMA directors, John Williams III and Andy Nickerson, will oversee the county's emergency management office and ambulance service.

"I really appreciate their support and the support of the (Brooke County) commissioners," Fowler said.

Starting at /week.