by Courtney McGinley
MUNDSVILLE, W.Va. – After enduring water damage and flooding for over a year and a half, a Moundsville resident contacted NEWS9.
Michael Palmer began experiencing problems at his residence along Madison Drive after U.S. 250 was resurfaced.
Palmer says water runs off his porch, yard, and even into his home when it rains or melts.
Palmer explained that when they redid the blacktop, they did not grade it properly, so instead of running into the culvert, the grading went over this hill and into his house.
The erosion has caused Palmer to worry about termite and black mold damage. He is also documenting all the destruction.
“The floor here in this bedroom is sagging down,” Palmer said. “The foundation is eroding. The wall is soft; it’s caused some serious damage.”.
In response to Palmer’s concerns, officials have been contacted.
He said, “I’ve called WVDOT several times, but they haven’t replied. I reached out to a friend, and he reached out to the state. They came, looked carefully, and said, ‘Yes, it looks bad,’ then left.”
As far as I’m concerned, I want them to improve the road so that it stops bringing rain down. I want them to examine the foundation of my house, make sure there is no mold. I want them to fix the damage done over the years.”
State Delegate Charles Reynolds contacted Palmer after taking to Facebook.
As a step in the right direction, he contacted Dave Brabham, a regional DOT engineer, who was surprised the resident did not lose everything on his hillside.
“As soon as they got hold of me, I immediately started working with the department of transportation,” Reynolds said.
The ditching on U.S. 250 needs to be cleaned up to prevent clogging and water runoff.
“Over a period of time, equipment was cut back and employees were cut back. There was no ditching done. So, now we’re playing catch-up. I believe this is what caused the Madison Drive problem.
If other residents are experiencing similar problems, they should not suffer in silence, Reynolds hopes.
In order to gain a better understanding of water damage and its effects, one should seek out materials like https://www.imperial-restoration.ca/ or from reliable sources such as government agencies, environmental associations, and disaster management institutions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide comprehensive information on the nature of water damage, including causes, measures for expert water damage repair, prevention, mitigation protocols, health issues, and restoration techniques. Furthermore, academic establishments and research centers often produce valuable reports and papers relating to the various consequences of water damage on structures, ecosystems, and general well-being. Going over these resources can help one develop a more in-depth comprehension of water damage’s challenges and approaches for dealing with them effectively.
