Charleston, W.Va. (WVDN) – Governor Patrick Morrisey announced $9.5 million in Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) grant funding for five critical water and sewer infrastructure projects in McDowell and Mingo counties. Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the McDowell County flood on Sunday, the Governor also unveiled a new statewide flood warning pilot program designed to enhance emergency preparedness and response.
“Water and sewer systems may not be flashy, but they are essential,” said Governor Morrisey. “If you cannot deliver clean drinking water or safely manage wastewater, you cannot attract jobs, build homes, or grow your economy. West Virginia is ready to grow, and that starts with strong fundamentals.”
$9.5 Million in AMLER Grants Awarded
The five AMLER-funded projects announced today are located near mine sites in McDowell and Mingo counties that closed prior to 1977 and were selected in coordination with state agencies to meet program requirements.
Town of Davy Sewer Project — $2.75 million to construct the town’s first centralized wastewater system, eliminating raw sewage discharges and replacing failing septic systems.
Jolo Waterline Extension Project — $2.014 million to install more than 60,000 feet of new waterline, providing reliable drinking water to 119 new connections, including five businesses.
City of Gary Sewer Upgrade Project — $1 million to strengthen the existing sewer system and protect reclaimed subsidence sites within city limits.
Elkhorn Creek Water Project — $2.5 million to extend public water service to 280 customers, including Ashland Resort, churches, and area businesses, and to support planned sewer expansion efforts in Ashland and Crumpler.
Town of Kermit Water Storage Tank Replacement — $1.26 million to replace the town’s failing water tank with a new 125,000-gallon storage facility.
Governor Proposes SENTRY Flood Warning Pilot Program
In addition to the infrastructure investments, Governor Morrisey announced a proposal for SENTRY, the Smart Environmental Notification Threat Response System, a 36-month, $10 million pilot program aimed at improving flood prediction and response.
“On Sunday, we remember the lives lost one year ago in the devastating flood that struck McDowell County and forever changed that community. Our hearts remain with the families who continue to grieve and rebuild, said Governor Morrisey. “As we honor those we lost, we are also focused on protecting our communities in the future. That is why we are working to implement SENTRY, a new flood warning initiative designed to provide earlier alerts and give families critical time to get to safety. We owe it to those we lost to do everything in our power to ensure we are better prepared and better protected moving forward.”
Unlike traditional stream gauges that indicate when water levels are already high, SENTRY will integrate additional rain gauges, soil saturation sensors, wind data, and stream monitoring with artificial intelligence-driven modeling to forecast elevated flood risk one to six hours in advance, with a target accuracy exceeding 90 percent.
