CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kanawha County President Kent Carper says he anticipates a decision will be made very soon concerning the future of land along the Elk River and feeder creeks in Kanawha County covered with water in the June 23 flood.
There are questions about whether residents, who lost their homes, will be allowed to rebuild. It’s a local government decision, Carper said.
“Are they really seriously going to tell these folks they can’t rebuild? That’s a decision that we’re going to make and we’re going to make it very, very soon,” Carper said.
State Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Jimmy Gianato said last week there is a buyout program that would allow residents to relocate to a safer area but that tends to destroy communities. A better option, according to Gianato, would be to allow the rebuild but with new requirements like elevation of the structure and a flood insurance requirement.
Carper said he’s not in favor of removing an entire community.
“I am not interested in destroying any hope for a community because someone thinks it might flood again,” Carper said.