[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 15654-15655]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     CLEARING AWAY THE MUD AND MUCK

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, Mother Nature has once again, as I have seen 
so many times, dealt West Virginia a heavy blow. For more than a week, 
heavy rains have spawned flash floods and mudslides. The storms have 
resulted in millions of dollars in damages to homes and businesses in 
Central and Southern West Virginia, damage so significant that 
yesterday Governor Bob Wise requested a Federal disaster declaration 
for the counties.
  His request seeks Federal aid for Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, 
Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mingo, Putnam, and Wayne counties.
  The need for help is abundantly clear. Hundreds and hundreds of homes 
have been washed away or significantly damaged because of the storms. 
Mudslides continue to threaten communities nestled along West 
Virginia's many mountains, mudslides that could be triggered with just 
a little more rain or a little more wind. Thousands of West Virginians 
have been without power, without telephone service, and without utility 
service. Bridges and roads have literally been wiped off the map, 
isolating communities that already are working to pick themselves up 
from this devastation.
  Make no mistake, West Virginians are committed to rebuilding.
  So many times I have seen them after a flood, if the homes were still 
standing, go right back into those homes, or, if the homes were gone, 
building another home and going right back into those homes.
  So they are committed to rebuilding their lives. But they need help 
to get back on their feet.
  As I have just indicated, today is West Virginia Day--a day normally 
set aside to celebrate the anniversary of the Mountain State becoming a 
full-fledged partner in this union of States. There will not be much 
celebrating today in these storm-ravaged counties. But we do celebrate 
the West Virginia spirit that has shined throughout the years, and in 
that same spirit that has shined throughout this disaster. It is a 
spirit that can never be washed away, no matter how heavy the rains 
come, and no matter how deep the floods.
  Thousands of Mountain State residents have taken part in the recover 
effort. I applaud them. Like so many before them among those West 
Virginia hills, they have filled sandbags and carried pets to safety. 
They have pulled people from homes just before the onrushing waters 
came rolling in. It is no surprise. Helping neighbors in need is the 
West Virginia way.

[[Page 15655]]

  It is with regret that I inform the Senate that that West Virginia 
spirit may have cost one man his life. In Lincoln County, in the town 
of Spurlockville, 37-year-old Joey Roberts was trying to give a hand to 
a friend whose car had stalled in waist-high water. The friend was 
trying to cross the Mud River in an area that normally is shallow 
enough for passage. But not on this day. The waters were just too much. 
When trying to help, Mr. Roberts slipped and fell. His body was 
recovered some time later. Our thoughts and prayers are with his 
family, and with all of the families who are struggling to regain some 
sense of safety and normalcy amid these storms.
  I hope that the request for Federal disaster assistance is approved 
quickly. Every moment counts in the recovery efforts, and every little 
bit of help is crucial.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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