Superstorm Sandy Agriculture Assistance Package Announced for West Virginia

West Virginia will be among 12 states eligible for $209 million in federal funding to help farmers, landowners and communities recover from the effects of Superstorm Sandy, according to West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Helmick.

“The general public doesn’t always see the damage that natural disasters do to rural agriculture and forestry operations in West Virginia,” said Commissioner Helmick. “But these industries are vital to our state, and I’m pleased that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing funding to help our farmers recover from this historic disaster.”

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) office in West Virginia has been collecting data from locally elected County Office Committees (COC) since the event to determine the types and extent of damage, according to State FSA Director Alfred J. Lewis.

Approximately $700,000 has been approved through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) based on information already collected from the counties. The majority of the funding will go to remove tree debris from farmland and fence lines. FSA has received more than 100 applications so far for individual assistance, and expects several more applications before the May 31, 2013 deadline.

Eligible counties in West Virginia include Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Barbour, Braxton, Clay, Nicholas, Webster, Lewis, Upshur and Boone. FSA will begin providing assistance immediately to eligible landowners.

ECP participants receive cost-share assistance of up to 75% of the cost to implement approved emergency practices. Qualified limited-resource producers may receive cost-share assistance of up to 90%.

More information on limited-resource eligibility is available at www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/LRP_Definition.aspx, or by visiting a local FSA office and picking up
“form 217.”

States included in the disaster declaration are Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia.

For more information on eligibility requirements and applications, producers may visit a local FSA county office or the FSA website at disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

For information on Presidential Disaster Declarations, visit www.disasterassistance.gov.

Strong Storms Leave Behind Power Outages, Damage

The National Weather Service says quick-moving heavy thunderstorms ushered in a weather change in West Virginia Friday afternoon. Temperatures will now be unseasonably cool for a few days.

The thunderstorms had heavy winds and left behind downed trees and power lines.

Monongahela Power reported more than 3,000 customers without service in western and northern counties at midnight Friday.

The highest numbers of outages were reported in Monongalia, Marion and Ritchie counties.

Appalachian Power reported approximately 1,400 customers without service late Friday night.

Most of those were in Wayne, Cabell and Jackson counties.

A large tree knocked down by the wind destroyed three vehicles in the height of the storm as it moved through the Guyandotte section of Huntington. There were no injuries.

Meteorologists forecasted more showers Friday night into Saturday morning followed by clearing skies and cooler temperatures Saturday afternoon into Sunday.

~~  WVMN ~~

OddlyEnough™: Punxsutawney Phil Charged with Fraud for Early Spring Forecast

With a snow storm expected to batter the Plains, Midwest and East Coast this weekend, a spring-deprived Ohio prosecutor is taking out his frustration with the long winter on a famous prognosticating groundhog.

“I decided it was about time we indicted Punxsutawney Phil for fraud,“ said Mike Gmoser, prosecutor in Ohio’s Butler County, in an interview.

When he emerged from his burrow in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, Phil did not see his shadow, leading to a forecast of an early spring. Gmoser’s mock indictment contends that the forecast was fraudulent.

The rodent is being charged with a single mock felony count of “Misrepresentation of Early Spring,“ which Gmoser said should be punishable by death.

Tom Kines, senior meteorologist for AccuWeather, said he understands why Gmoser and his fellow Ohioans might be inclined to take out their frustrations on the groundhog.

“The mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest have been experiencing record-coldest high temperatures, which means that the high temperatures have never been so cold,“ said Kines.

Kines added that a coast-to-coast storm front expected to hit this weekend is likely to bring more cold temperatures and even snow to areas that normally do not see snow this time of year, including Butler County in southwestern Ohio.

The news doesn’t get any better for the upper Midwest, Great Lakes or Mid-Atlantic area.

“We don’t expect to see springtime weather anytime soon and expect cold through the end of the month,“ Kines said. “The cold will ease up a bit the second half of April. But it will be a gradual thing.“

Gmoser said he might be inclined to drop the case if he sees temperatures reach the 80s by mid-April.

Neither Phil, nor his keepers, could immediately be reached for comment.

Gmoser said his office will give Buckeye Chuck, the Ohio groundhog who also forecast an early spring, immunity if he testifies against Phil.

“I know his defenders are going to say he is just a dumb groundhog but, as we know ignorance, is not a defense of the law,“ said Gmoser.

Closings & Delays Due to Weather - Wednesday 03.06.13

FEMA Doles Out $2.4M to Help WV Clear Debris

More than $2.4 Million in Federal funds have been approved to help the West Virginia Division of Highways continue clearing debris from roads left by Superstorm Sandy.

The funds include nearly $1.4 million for Tucker County alone.

U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin and Congressman Nick Rahall announced the funding Friday from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The October storm dumped more than 2 feet of snow in parts of the state, left seven people dead and knocked out electricity to more than a quarter-million customers, some for two weeks.

Disaster Assistance Available to Residents and Businesses Affected by Hurricane Sandy

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin announced, in response to his written request, the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest disaster loans to residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Homeowners, renters and businesses located in Nicholas, Braxton, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha and Webster counties may apply for disaster loan assistance for damages suffered between October 29 and November 10, 2012.

“I’m grateful the SBA has made this assistance available,“ Governor Tomblin said. “These loans, up to $200,000 for homeowners and up to $2 million for businesses, can help those affected by the severe weather make needed repairs and replace lost items.“

The filing deadline for physical property damage is April 26, 2013.

The deadline for economic injury applications is November 25, 2013.

Individuals and businesses can learn more by visiting www.sba.gov.

Closings & Delays Due to Weather - Friday 02.22.13

Guidance Document Offers Different Approaches to Address Stormwater Runoff

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection will soon release a guidance document to assist West Virginia MS4 communities in designing alternative pollution-control programs for development projects that can’t meet on-site stormwater runoff requirements.

Forty-seven West Virginia communities are regulated under the state’s small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit. The permit includes performance standards for development and redevelopment projects within MS4 communities. The standards are designed to reduce the impacts of polluted stormwater on the state’s streams and rivers.

The state’s new Off-Site Compliance Program Guidance addresses development projects where site conditions do not allow the first inch of rainfall to be captured on site. As alternative measures, the guidance document outlines “off-site compliance” approaches to meeting the MS4 permit performance standards.

Those approaches include Off-Site Mitigation, where runoff reduction practices at a development site are implemented by the site developer at another location within the same watershed or sewershed; and Payment in Lieu, where the site developer pays the MS4 an appropriate fee with the understanding that funds will be used to support another public stormwater project.

The 93-page guidance document, which was developed for the DEP by the Center for Watershed Protection, provides definitions, details and resources for MS4s that wish to utilize either, or both, the Off-Site Mitigation and Payment in Lieu programs. It also supplements the recently state-issued Stormwater Management and Design Guidance Manual.

The guidance document will be available this month by going to the Stormwater Program page under the Division of Water and Waste Management on the DEP Web site.

For more information, contact DEP MS4 Program Manager Sherry Wilkins at “Sherry.L.Wilkins@wv.gov” or 304.926,0499x1048.

Closings & Delays Due to Weather - Tuesday 02.05.13

Closings & Delays Due to Weather - Monday 02.04.13

Punxsutawney Phil, Buckeye Chuck and French Creek Freddie Predicts an Early Spring

Today, both Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania, Buckeye Chuck in Ohio, and French Creek Freddie at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center in Upshur County emerged from their holes and did not see their shadows.

According to groundhog rules, that means there will be an early Spring this year.

Punxsutawney Phil emerged just after dawn on Groundhog Day to make his 127th annual weather forecast in front of a smaller-than-usual crowd who braved muddy, icy conditions to hear his handlers reveal that he had not seen his shadow.

For the fourth year in the row, Buckeye Chuck sent a signal Saturday that spring will come soon for Ohioans.

Including Saturday’s forecast; Phil has seen his shadow 98 times and hasn’t seen it just 18 times since 1887. There are no records for the remaining years, though the group has never failed to issue a forecast.

The celebration is rooted in a German superstition that says if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on February 02, the Christian holiday of Candlemas, winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.

In reality, Pennsylvania’s prophetic rodent doesn’t see much of anything. The result is actually decided in advance by 14 members of the club’s Inner Circle, who don tuxedos and top hats for the event.

French Creek Freddie Will Be Ready to Predict Spring Saturday

West Virginia State Wildlife Center’s official weather prognosticator, French Creek Freddie, is poised to forecast the onset of spring on Saturday, February 02, 2013 at 10:00 AM French Creek Freddie has undertaken his annual ritual at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center since 1978.

“Celebrating Groundhog Day at the Wildlife Center has become a very popular event,” said Wildlife Center Biologist Gene Thorn. “This year we’re hoping for a huge crowd to help us celebrate and witness Freddie’s annual prediction because the event falls on Saturday when the kids are out of school.”

In addition to the pageantry of seeing if Freddie sees his shadow, visitors can listen to poems and songs, enjoy refreshments, and compete in various wood chuckin’ contests.

According to tradition rooted in early European legend, Groundhog Day stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day.

For centuries, early Christian clergy would bless candles and distribute them to the people.

During the conquest of the northern country, Roman legions supposedly brought this tradition to the Germans, who concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, the hedgehog would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather.

The Germans would recite: For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl until the May.

Early German settlers in the New World found another burrowing animal, the woodchuck or groundhog, to be more plentiful then the hedgehog. Thus, the groundhog replaced the hedgehog as the traditional “wise animal” in North America.

Freddie’s Legend Launched in 1978

People remember retired West Virginia Wildlife Center biologist Bill Vanscoy for his annual tete-a-tete with French Creek Freddie, the Wildlife Center’s resident weather-prognosticating groundhog. Vanscoy in fact launched Freddie’s legend in 1978.

According to Vanscoy, “A newspaper reporter who had come to the Game Farm (now the Wildlife Center) called me the day before Groundhog Day one year and asked if we had a groundhog, and if it had seen its shadow. I don’t remember what I told him, but it was whatever was appropriate to the weather we were having.

“Anyway, he asked me what the groundhog’s name was. I don’t know what possessed me to do it, but I skipped the usual lecture on why we don’t name animals and said his name was French Creek Freddie. It went out on the Associated Press wire, and soon we were getting calls from all over the country. Every year now, people from newspapers and TV stations come out on Groundhog Day and get a groundhog out of its den for the cameras. It’s harmless fun, and it comes at a time of the year that people need some cheering up.”

The next Wildlife Center biologist, Rob Silvester, continued the tradition and recalls that people from the region remembered seeing him on TV with French Creek Freddie. “I would be walking in the mall in Fairmont and some guy would come up to me and say he saw me on TV on Groundhog Day.”

Current Wildlife Center biologist Gene Thorn has experienced the same thing as he carries on the tradition each year. He has expanded the ceremony into a lesson on the history of Groundhog Day – reading poems sand leading songs, including one he wrote himself, “The French Creek Freddie Song,” sung to the tune of the “Mickey Mouse March” that many in the crowd grew up with.

There are refreshments, games and activity sheets for the kids. This year a Wood Chuckin’ Contest will be held. The local community gets involved, and every year the local Lion’s Club puts on a Pancake and “Ground-hog” Sausage Feed at the Volunteer Fire Department in Rock Cave. A good time is had by all that show up at 10:00 AM February 02 each year.

For more information about the annual Groundhog Day Celebration at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center, contact the center at 304.924.6211 or visit the DNR’s web page at www.wvdnr.gov.

Closings & Delays Due to Weather - Friday 02.01.13

[1] Glenville State College is operating on a two hour delay Friday, February 01, 2013; all classes before 10:00 AM are cancelled. Essential staff should report at the normal time.

Please Send Us Your Closings and Delays

Closings & Delays Due to Weather - Thursday 01.31.13

Please Send Us Your Closings and Delays

Gilmer County: Landslide on WV Highway 5 West of Glenville

Update:

The Division of Highways reopened the road early Tuesday afternoon.

One car was involved in an accident before cleanup began.

One person went to the hospital with unknown injuries.

========================

Update: 01.29.13:

According the Gilmer County OEM Director, Susie Kirkpatrick West Virginia Highway 5 West of Glenville is still closed due to a very large rock-slide.

WVDOH is on scene and has been working all night, road is planned to reopen by 10:00 AM this morning.

========================

There has been a huge landslide on West Virginia Highway 5 West blocking both lanes to traffic.

The incident happened about 11:00 PM, Monday, January 28, 2013.

The landslide is about the MonPower Field Office.

West Virginia Highway Department crews are working to open the road.

Closings & Delays Due to Weather - Friday 01.25.13

Please Send Us Your Closings and Delays

Closings & Delays Due to Weather - Thursday 01.24.13

Please Send Us Your Closings and Delays

Dress Your House for Cold, Wintery Drafts

By bringing heavier, more luxurious textiles into your space, you can dress your home for the colder weather:

Textile designer Khristian Howell says, “Put your feet first. A dramatic and easy way to change things up in a room is by bringing in a great rug. Sheepskin rugs are so wonderful for the winter months. They feel good underfoot, and bring warmth into the room, while keeping a light airy feeling.“

Howell believes you can’t go wrong with textiles that have a high pile and texture. She suggests decorating with furs, chenille, velour and wools.

Winter is the perfect time to bring in heavier drapery to create a warm, insulated feeling and a bit of drama.

Boston designer Ana Donohue suggests adding silk elements to your decor to create a warm and elegant atmosphere.

What’s not to love about using fabric in place of traditional wallpaper? All you need is your favorite fabric, cornstarch and water to create a homemade adhesive that won’t harm your painted walls. The best part is, when you’re ready for a change, all you have to do is peel the fabric away from the wall, wipe the walls clean and throw your fabric in the wash to be re-used in another project.

Upholstered headboards are a fabulous way to add texture and depth to a bedroom.

If your larger pieces of furniture are of a more neutral color palette, you can be bold with your choices in textile colors and patterns. Using textiles to bring in exciting pops of color will rejuvenate your space and bring a smile to your face on those gloomy winter afternoons.

~~  Lana Kole of Lana Kole Studio on hgtv.com  ~~

Closings & Delays Due to Weather - Tuesday 01.22.13

Please Send Us Your Closings and Delays

Storm Public Assistance Surpasses $1M in West Virginia

More than $1 million in federal public assistance has been paid out in West Virginia to help state and local governments with expenses from repairs and cleanup following Superstorm Sandy.

Under a federal disaster declaration signed by President Barack Obama on November 27, 2012, 18 counties became eligible for public assistance.

So far the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than 35 projects submitted by local governments.

January 26, 2013 is the deadline to apply for reimbursement for recovery and cleanup costs from the storm and for aid to repair or replace public buildings and infrastructure.

The storm left many areas with a massive cleanup effort.

FEMA’s Charleston public assistance chief Gary Brand estimates more than 1.5 million cubic yards of debris from fallen trees were scattered over the 18 counties.

Disaster Spending Straps West Virginia Road Fund

West Virginia revenue officials had to give the State Road Fund a $6.5 million infusion last month after three costly and unforeseen disasters tapped much of its cash.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation has spent a lot of money in a short amount of time to make roads passable after the June 29 Derecho, Superstorm Sandy, and last month’s powerful natural gas line explosion near Sissonville that badly damaged a portion of Interstate 77.

Officials said the final cost of the emergency overnight paving job that reopened I-77 has yet to be tallied, but costs from the other events totaled $30 million.

The transfer made in December should be enough to cover road fund costs until the state receives money from the federal government.

2012 among Warmest in some WV Cities

The National Weather Service says 2012 is among the warmest years on record in some West Virginia cities.

Preliminary data show average temperatures in Beckley, Clarksburg and Elkins were the second-warmest on record.

Elkins’ average temperature was 52.7 degrees. The record, 53.3 degrees, was set in 1921.

Beckley’s average temperature, 54.5 degrees, is the highest since the record 55.6 degrees in 1931.

In Clarksburg, the average temperature was 54.3 degrees. The record is 54.4 degrees set in 1931 and tied in 1998.

Report: Sandy damaged $126M Broadband Project

The West Virginia Office of Technology says Superstorm Sandy significantly damaged a new fiber-optic Internet network being built in West Virginia with $126.3 million in federal stimulus funds.

The Charleston Gazette reports that the damage has prompted state officials to consider asking the federal government to extend the deadline for completing the high-speed broadband project.

The state now has until January 31, 2013 to finish the work, or risk losing any unspent funds.

The extension would likely allow Frontier Communications to build more fiber to public facilities.

The state also would have time to construct additional wireless towers that serve a statewide emergency communications network.

West Virginia chief technology officer Gale Given says officials are assessing the damage.

November 2012 among Driest in Some West Virginia Cities

The National Weather Service says November precipitation levels in several West Virginia cities are among the lowest on record for the month.

Beckley received 0.68 inches of precipitation. That is slightly above the record 0.66 inches in November 2001.

November also was the second-driest in Parkersburg, which received 0.44 inches of precipitation. The record is 0.11 inches in 1904.

Huntington recorded its third driest November with 0.62 inches of precipitation. The record is 0.10 inches in 2001.

Charleston received 1.05 inches of precipitation, the seventh lowest level for November. The record is 0.45 inches in 1904.

The weather service says normal November precipitation is 3 to 3.5 inches.

G-Comm™: Can Sandy Be A Savior?

Hurricane Sandy may turn out to be the savior of the world from nuclear catastrophe.

The current budget crisis of the United States, amplified by the tremendous human and property losses of killer storm Sandy, may be the opportunity that people everywhere have been hoping for: the chance to eliminate the huge, costly and illegal nuclear weapons stockpiles of the United States and Russia.

As of November, 2012, New York, New Jersey and other states are reeling from the overwhelming property damage done by the storm. At this point we cannot even estimate how many billions of dollars will be required to assist the devastated areas in their rebuilding, or the new and unknown infrastructure needed to reduce the damage of such storms in the future. What we do know is that without very substantial help from the already strained federal budget this highly productive area of the U.S. will be unable to rebuild itself for a long time.

How will the Congress trim the federal budget to provide the urgently needed aid for the coastal areas? Will they cut back on Social Security and Medicare, as some have suggested, or will they prune the excessive, unusable and illegal nuclear weapons complex, which is now planning to spend “between $620 billion and $661 billion on nuclear weapons and related programs over the next decade” according to What Nuclear Weapons Cost Us, a report from the nonpartisan Ploughshares Fund.

While a large majority of Americans have repeatedly said in polls that they want a nuclear weapons-free world, every attempt to prune the nuclear weapons budget is opposed by the Congress. Many former hawks and military leaders have said that these weapons are a liability that does not keep us safe and should be abolished. Then why does the Congress continue to defend the huge nuclear weapons budget? Because the Nuclear Weapons lobby contributes to Congressional campaigns. A report from the Center for International Policy finds that, “In the 2012 election cycle, the top 14 nuclear weapons contractors gave a total of $2.9 million to key members of Congress with decision making power over nuclear weapons spending. These firms have donated $18.7 million to these same members of Congress over the course of their careers.”

We now know that any exchange of nuclear weapons would threaten the world’s people with a nuclear winter, caused by the huge cloud of radioactive debris that would circle the Earth and reduce food crops to famine levels, as well as weakening the ozone layer, threatening the ocean’s phytoplankton and spreading radioactive fallout over large areas of the Earth. As a result, many nations have repeatedly supported resolutions for abolition at the UN General Assembly, including the latest one by 34 nations stressing the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, which was delivered in October of this year.

We, the American people, have a choice. We can continue the plan for modernizing and replacing nuclear weapons and their delivery systems to last through the end of the century, or we can immediately cancel all such plans and expenses, and sign an agreement with Russia to work jointly to reduce our huge weapons stockpiles. Once we both reach a much smaller stockpile we can demand that other nations with similar stockpiles—several nations, such as China and Israel, have approximately 300 of them—must join with us in A Nuclear Weapons Convention and take the last step to rid the world of these suicidal weapons systems. This would save the U.S. Treasury hundreds of $billions, while reducing the ever-present danger of a nuclear exchange.

Loosening the grip of the Nuclear Weapons lobby on the Congress and their choosing life-sustaining budget priorities will not happen easily or quickly. The American people must leave the armchair of denial and organize now to preserve a livable world for their children and grandchildren. It will take a consolidated peace movement with breadth and determination. But it can be done.

Now, when we so urgently need to help those living in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and to trim the federal budget at the same time, is the window of opportunity. We must seize this moment to act, or the window will close, we will return to business as usual, and at some time in the future these terrible weapons may set the Earth on fire.

~~  Peter G Cohen, Santa Barbara, CA ~~

Gassaway: Mountaineer Food Bank Gets Help after Derecho-Sandy

It is food in, food out at the Mountaineer Food Bank in Gassaway, WV.

The non-profit provides food for more than 600 pantries and senior centers in 48 counties across the state.

Mountaineer Food Bank Executive Director Carla Nardella says Hurricane Sandy put a halt to the recovery process from this summer’s derecho.

“We were just catching up from the storm in July, trying to get ahead a little bit or even be able to fill orders for mixed-food boxes,“ Nardella said.

Just last month, the shelves at the food bank were pretty bare when a number of agencies put out the call for food drives across the state in preparation for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

“We live in a disaster mode here all the time,“ said Nardella.

But with help from local food drives and extra tractor trailers filled with supplies from Feeding America arriving after the storm, Nardella says they have been able to send out their regular truckloads of food during their weekly deliveries.

“I walked through the warehouse and there’s canned soup, there’s canned fruits, there’s canned meats, there’s some paper products like toilet tissue,” she said.

Those are meaningful donations to those in need, especially those who lost all their food during Hurricane Sandy.

She stresses that can of soup that’s sitting on your shelf may not mean much to you, but to someone that’s in need…“Boy, when you’re on the other end and you open up your cabinet and that can of soup is all you’ve got, it’s the world!“

To help, you can make a monetary donation to the Mountaineer Food Bank, drop off non-perishable items to your local food pantry or even just volunteer a few hours of your time to help organize shelves. She says those gestures are incredibly important.

Blackwater Falls Employees Go Old-School with Challenges; Cathedral’s Forest Wrecked from Sandy

Twelve days since “Sandy” hit the spine of the Potomac Highlands, Blackwater Falls State Park employees have been working with no power, heat, or hot water in the lodge.  “Anywhere from 30-50 inches of snow fell across the park as a result of the October 29 storm depending upon where you measure,” said Rob Gilligan, superintendent. Gilligan oversees Blackwater Falls, Canaan Valley, Cathedral and Fairfax Stone state parks.

Cathedral State Park, in adjoining Preston County, a 133-acre tract of virgin hemlock, also took a hit. According to Park Ranger Eric Risinger, all buildings have trees on them and trails are blocked by the massive hemlocks, many of which fell onto the trails from the weight of the snowfall. Cathedral is temporarily closed until some of the more than 24” of snowfall melts and trees can be safely removed from structures and trails.

The wet, heavy snow has not moved easily with conventional snow removal equipment.  Blackwater staff is used to snow removal in the winter months but this storm is unparalleled to any recent snow fall in memory. The park roads remain closed to continue removal of fallen trees and the dangers of overhanging limbs. Blackwater Falls typically receives 150 inches of snow during a normal winter and ski season.  “This storm generated almost 1/3 of our normal winter snowfall in less than 24 hours and it isn’t winter yet in the valley,” Gilligan said. Employees have worked non-stop since Tuesday October 30 clearing trees and a moving monumental amount of snow, making the park safe for visitation.

Power restoration is possible by Saturday, November 10.  Even with power there will be some structural repairs necessary at Blackwater Falls Lodge and associated structures. Gilligan said park employees have done an outstanding job of sacrificing to get the park area open.  “You’ll not find a more dedicated group of individuals than state park employees.”  Many employees’ homes remain without power and other utilities.

There is one phone line in service at Blackwater Falls.  The volume of calls has been overwhelming from patrons being concerned about the park as well as checking on reservations or wanting to make reservations.  “We are certainly appreciative of the many guests and their understanding with our temporary closure as we get things cleared up,” Gilligan said. “Many callers are unaware of the unusual conditions we are experiencing here at the park and in Tucker County.”

The front desk operation has moved to the gas log fireplace for employees to have some heat in the workplace. Internet and any equipment that requires electricity is not functioning.  “The destruction of power poles and lines from tree damage is extensive here at Blackwater Falls,” Gilligan said.

Information is recorded by pen or pencil, written on a piece of paper, and illuminated by window, fire or flashlight depending upon the time of day. The park number is 304.259.5216.  “We won’t go home and give up. Hard work and dedication gets the job done until the lights come on again. You just pick up and go on,” Gilligan said.

WV Governor: Making Progress Together After the Storm

Just this summer, a record-setting wind storm tested our ability to respond to an emergency affecting our entire state. And just this week, the combined effects of Hurricane Sandy and a winter weather system tested our state’s emergency response, yet again. Throughout the last couple days, I’ve visited several of our affected counties and witnessed the damage first hand—leading me to request a major federal disaster declaration for the hardest hit areas. I hope the federal government will expedite my request so we can receive additional resources to quickly help those who need it most.

Despite various severe weather conditions experienced throughout West Virginia, we continue to make progress. Shelters are open across the state—providing a warm, safe place for families to eat a meal and rest. At the same time, our National Guard, state agencies and utility companies have forged ahead—restoring electricity and cutting the number of outages in half. While you may not see your lights or your neighbor’s lights on yet, please know both the Division of Highways and Forestry, along with the National Forestry Division, continue to work closely with our utility companies to help clear roads to affected areas—further facilitating the restoration of power throughout our state. Our National Guard has once again stepped up and answered our call for help with over 550 dedicated men and women working in communities across the state, helping our local emergency services take lifesaving actions.

On Wednesday, Senator Joe Manchin and Congressman Nick Rahall joined me as I travelled to some of the most heavily damaged areas of our state and assessed the need first-hand. Under the weight of snow, several structures in Nicholas County collapsed. It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear the stories of families whose homes and businesses were destroyed. Their stories are just a handful of the many that weigh heavily on the minds and in the hearts of West Virginians.

Thanks to each and every one of you—for your patience and for taking care of one another. You have again shown me the resilience of the people of our state. We have many families in the dark and in the cold, and I want to reassure you that our crews are working around the clock to ensure power is restored and that all West Virginians are safe.

Together, we can and will weather this storm. We are strong—and as your governor, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made. I’m proud of the many men and women who’ve stepped up to meet each and every challenge this storm has presented. We still have some work to do—that’s why I’m asking each of you to check on your families, neighbors and friends—lend a helping hand to those who need it. Most of all—take care of one another. And please visit http://www.governor.wv.gov  for the latest progress updates and information to help you and your family.

G-Comm™: Hoppy’s Commentary - Storm Throws Campaigns a Curve

The final days before an election are critical, especially in close races.  Candidates make their final, frenzied push while voters cast their ballots through early voting or make up their minds for Election Day.

However, Hurricane Sandy has thrown a curveball into this election.

The historic storm has blanketed large swaths of the state (particularly the eastern mountains) in heavy snow, and the snow continues to fall.  As of Tuesday, an estimated quarter-million power company customers were without electricity. 

Roads are treacherous; many schools and businesses are closed.

No doubt tens of thousands of West Virginians are more worried about the electricity than the election. Candidates will have trouble getting the attention of voters in the hardest-hit communities.

A dent in turnout would hurt Democrats more than Republicans. Democrats have a decided edge in registration and a large turnout typically helps Democratic candidates pull ahead of their Republican challengers.

Governor Tomblin has suspended his campaign activities because of the storm, but perhaps ironically, he’s in the media far more now than he was before.  He’s been all over radio and television (even the Weather Channel) with storm information.

And it’s certainly appropriate for the state’s Governor to take the lead during times like these.

It will be interesting to see how voters respond.

Some voters may see Tomblin as being “in charge” during a time of crisis.  Voters tend to migrate toward leaders, men and women who step up and take responsibility when there are challenges.

However, this is the second time in four months that West Virginia has been hit by a devastating storm.  The June derecho left thousands of West Virginians frustrated over how long it took to restore electricity and basic services.

If it’s a tough slog back to normalcy this time, voters could take it out on the Governor.  It won’t be the Governor’s fault if the power is not back on by Election Day, but his name is the one on the ballot. 

That’s the other side of the double-edged sword of responsibility during a crisis.

Political candidate appearances are typically associated with smiles and handshakes.  After all, campaigns are supposed to be about optimism and the future. 

That’s a tougher sell right now, since thousands of West Virginians will spend the time between now and Election Day cold, wet and tired.

Hurricane Sandy Has Caused Some Major Problems to System That Can’t Be Repaired Quickly

Thousands of West Virginia residents may be facing several days with no electrical service must like they did when the derecho moved through the Mountain State four months ago.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin tells MetroNews Appalachian Power Company has 50 transmission lines, 30 substations and 90 circuits damaged from Hurricane Sandy’s wind, rain and snow and the company can’t get a read on the exact damage to those main lines until helicopter patrols can check them out.

“Obviously with the weather conditions, they’ve got helicopters lined up, but they won’t be able to fly until Thursday,“ Tomblin said.

After that review the governor says Appalachian Power can move forward with repairs.

“They tell me that if it’s not the (transmission) towers they can fix it fairly quickly, but if it’s the towers it could be longer,“ he said.

Appalachian Power reported 140,000 customers without service at 5pm Tuesday. FirstEnergy, the parent company of Mon Power and Potomac Edison, reported 109,000 customers without service in the Mountain State.

Both Appalachian Power and Mon Power had transmission tower problems following the June 29th derecho and some of their customers were without power for two weeks. A Mon Power spokesperson said Tuesday afternoon the company hoped to have all service restored by the middle of next week, Appalachian Power’s Phil Moye would not put a time frame on it.

“At a time when your outage numbers are still going up and when you still have the type of weather that’s causing the outages in the area, it’s so premature you really can’t make a good determination of when you’ll have power back,“ Moye said.

Gov. Tomblin says shelters are being established and if the power outages continue he anticipates they will be used by residents just like they were following the derecho.

“It’s just the opposite of what we faced in July with 100 degree temperatures. We were trying to keep people cool and now we have the same thing trying to keep people warm,“ the governor said.

The state announced the openings of 26 shelters Tuesday evening. Tomblin says another 50 could be added to the list.

You can see a list of the shelters at www.governor.wv.gov/pages/shelters.aspx

The state was approved by President Barack Obama Tuesday to receive some immediate help from FEMA but many of the needed generators are going to the New York-New Jersey area where Sandy hit first. The governor says he’s been stressing the need in West Virginia to FEMA.

“We’re a little bit different—-they’re not facing the cold temperatures and snow that we are. It’s important that they put us at the top,” Tomblin said.

West Virginia Governor Declares Emergency for Storm

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency in West Virginia on Monday ahead of a storm packing high winds and heavy rain and threatening to bring flooding and dump as much as 3 feet of snow on the state’s highest ridge tops.

Forecasters expanded a blizzard warning Monday to at least 14 counties. High wind warnings and flood watches also were posted, mostly in northern and eastern sections of the state. Eastern parts of the state can expect to get up to 6 inches of rain.

Forecasters upgraded an earlier prediction that had said up to 2 feet of snow was possible on ridge tops, where there are mainly ski resorts or sparsely populated areas.

“We’re not taking it lightly,“ said Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Gene Tracy. “We’re preparing for the worst — power outages — and getting ready to cut trees if they block the roads.“

Tomblin on Monday opened a special communications center at the state Capitol. He advised residents to be ready for power outages and to stay off roads once high winds hit.

“We’re looking at a three-punch storm,“ Tomblin said. “People looking out their windows may just see some clouds and a little drizzle. I’m asking them to make sure they have enough water, batteries, food, whatever they think they need for the next two days.“

No significant outages were reported Monday. Tracy said Pocahontas County officials are spreading the word that “we ought to keep our heads up and be ready to open shelters.“

Highway crews embarked on what could be a long week of snow removal, working along U.S. 219 in Pocahontas and Randolph counties and Interstate 64 east of Beckley on Monday.

Weather service meteorologist Tim Axford said the overwhelming majority of residents live in lower elevations where significantly lesser amounts of snow are expected. He said the amount of land above 3,000 feet — where the highest amount of snow was expected to fall — is minuscule. It does exist in seven counties but there are no towns of significant size involved.

Elkins, in Randolph County, is in a valley at 2,000 feet but is surrounded by significant mountain peaks to the east.

“People that live in Elkins may see 3 to 6 inches” of snow, Axford said, “but people who live just outside could see quite a bit more. It’s highly elevation dependent.“

Marlinton is about a half-hour drive from Snowshoe Mountain and Mayor Joe Smith said his town at about 2,500-feet elevation had yet to see a snowflake as of Monday afternoon. He doesn’t expect the town will get anywhere near the same amount of snow as Snowshoe, but even if it does, “you just live with it and handle it,“ Smith said. “We’re prepared. We’ve got our plows and our salt trucks ready.“

In Preston County, one of 14 counties under a blizzard warning, rain and fog hugged Caddell Mountain at midday. People at the Shop N Save supermarket in Terra Alta picked up bread, milk and cat food, but all laughed off the dire predictions they saw on a cable television channel where forecasters didn’t differentiate in elevations.

Snowshoe’s highest peak in Pocahontas County is more than 4,800 feet, while Terra Alta sits at an elevation of about 2,500 feet. Morgantown, about 40 miles northwest of Terra Alta, sits below 1,000 feet.

“I never have been worried. ... The only guy that can keep a job is the weather man,“ said Homer Bennett, who has lived in Terra Alta a little less than three years. “He can tell a lie, get paid and still have a job.“

Judy Sines, who was restocking shelves as a few last-minute shoppers trickled in and out, has lived on the mountaintop for more than 30 years. She said big snows are nothing new to the area.

“All we can do is get prepared and hope for the best,“ she said. “People around here ... you know what it’s like and you know how to get through it. You do the best you can do, and it is what it is.“

There was a big snowstorm a few days before Halloween last year, but Foy is so used to storms, she can’t even remember how much fell.

“I heard Saturday night we were getting 5 feet and I just laughed,“ Foy said. “We have gotten 5 feet before. But they’re saying this is the blizzard of all blizzards, we’ve never seen a blizzard like this before.

“I don’t think so,“ she said. “It could be, maybe. And it could pass.“

Doug Rumer threw two loaves of bread in a cart before heading the 10 miles home to Aurora. That was about the extent of his preparations.

“I’ve got a generator. Most people up here do,“ he said. “It’s no worries. We’re used to it. ... We just sit at home and play cards.“

The most recorded snowfall from a single storm in West Virginia was 57 inches in Pickens in post-Thanksgiving 1950, the weather service said.

It Could Take More Than a Week to Restore Some Storm Power Outages

Hundreds of additional power line repair workers are already in West Virginia as Sandy rolls in with snow, wind and rain.

First Energy (MonPower)  Spokesperson Todd Meyer says, since snow totals are expected to get into the feet in the highest elevations by Wednesday, some of his company’s customers could possibly be without power for as long as seven to ten days.

“They’ve upped the amount of snow to 12” to 24” in those higher elevations and even other areas in our service territory in West Virginia are looking at up to 9” of wet, heavy snow and, where it’s not snowing, it’s going to be raining and raining hard,“ Meyer said.

First Energy includes Mon Power and Potomac Edison Power which covers parts of central and northern West Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle.  But Meyer says it’s not just West Virginia that is taking a hit from Sandy.

“We stretch all the way from Ohio to the Jersey Shore and there’s a lot of areas that are going to be impacted, maybe even more, from some of the rain and the heavy winds coming from Sandy,“ he said.

Because of that, Meyer says they’ve had to cast a net all the way across the country to find additional help.

For Appalachian Power, an extra 400 repair crew members were being stationed, mainly out of Princeton and Beckley, ahead of the storm on Monday morning.  Some of Appalachian’s workers have come from Oklahoma and Texas.

“The biggest difference between this and the summer storm is that we do have some amount of warning.  We know it’s coming,“ Moye said on Monday.

As for what they’re expecting, “High winds, gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour, blizzard like conditions with up to 18 inches of snow in some of the higher elevations,“ Moye said.

“Those are conditions that could really give us problems, especially with leaves still on some of the trees.“

He says a number of factors could impact power restoration times in the coming days.

The General Manager for Frontier Communications in West Virginia says his company learned a lot about storm preparation and response after the June 29th Derecho.

“We went through this with the Derecho,“ Dana Waldo said.  “We understand some of the issues.  We normally follow the electric companies in repairing our facilities.  So whatever impact they have, we’ll have.“

Sandy will be putting down rain and snow in West Virginia for at least a couple of days.  That precipitation is expected to come in waves.

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Farm Agency Accepting Applications for Agricultural Damage during June 29, 2012 Storm

West Virginia Farm Service Agency County Executive Director Steven C. Nestor announced that applications are now being accepted for debris removal under the Emergency Conservation Program for eligible producers who suffered agricultural damage due to the severe windstorm that occurred on June 29, 2012 in Lewis, Upshur and Gilmer counties.

To be eligible, applicants must be an agricultural producer and the land must be physically located in a county that has been approved for ECP. Land must also be normally used for farming operations such as producing agricultural commodities, or grazing for commercial livestock production. Producers are not eligible for ECP on land on which they are required to maintain the practice or the land under any other federal or state cost-share program such as, but not limited to, CRP or EQIP.

ECP will provide cost-share assistance to eligible agricultural producers to remove debris from farmland when it is interfering with normal farming operations. This is not an “entitlement” program and the damage must be of such magnitude that it would be too costly to rehabilitate the land without federal assistance.

Producers must have sustained an estimated minimum of at least $1,000 in damages be considered eligible for assistance. Damage estimates can include the farmers own manual and skilled labor, chainsaw operation, heavy equipment or farm tractor usage and other associated costs.

Applications are being accepted through November 29, 2012. If you would like to apply, please call prior to making an office visit. This will allow office staff time to prepare and will shorten the time you have to spend in the office.

For more information contact the Lewis/Upshur & Gilmer FSA Office at 304.269.8431x2, or visit the office located just off U.S. Highway 33, Grass Run Road exit East of Weston.

Special accommodations will be made, upon request, for persons with disabilities, vision or hearing impairments. Please call if accommodations are required.

14 Counties under Winter Storm Watch

West Virginians are bracing for strong winds, heavy snow and possible flooding and power outages as Hurricane Sandy approaches the coast and heads inland.

This week’s freak storm—a combination of Hurricane Sandy, a cold front from the west and high pressure from the north—brings a variety of concerns, depending on the location.

A winter storm watch was posted in 14 southeastern and eastern counties, and high winds are expected as far west as Charleston, Huntington and eastern Kentucky.

Snow was forecast to start falling Sunday night and continue through Wednesday morning from McDowell County northeast to Preston County. As much as 2 feet of snow is possible on the highest ridge tops, including near ski resorts, while up to 6 inches are likely in other areas, the National Weather Service said.

Other areas of the state will see a mix of rain and snow, especially Monday night and Tuesday.

Wind gusts up to 60 mph were likely Monday and Tuesday in Berkeley, Hampshire, Grant, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton counties. Combined with heavy rains, that could lead to significant tree damage, the weather service said.

Flooding also was possible in both panhandles and portions of Northern West Virginia.

Power company crews were being mobilized to deal with potential outages.

West Virginia already has had a busy year dealing with weather-related emergencies. The June 29 Derecho left more than 680,000 state customers without electricity, many for up to two weeks.
Residents are being told to “prepare for the worst and hope for the best. With an event this size, the power company is going to be so tied up and they’re not going to be able to get to everybody at the same time. So they need to be as ready as they can.‘’

The brunt of the storm was expected to bypass Kanawha County and other central and western counties, although prolonged rains could cause water problems later in the week, the weather service said.

The weather service in Charleston issued a wind advisory Sunday evening for the tri-state region, including 24 counties in western and north-central West Virginia.

Northwest winds of 20 to 30 miles an hour and gusts up to 50 mph, especially on ridge tops, are expected all day Monday with the strongest winds Monday night and early Tuesday, the weather service said.

Tree limbs and branches could fall, power fluctuations and outages are possible, and high winds could make driving difficult, the weather service said.

The wind advisory is in effect from Noon Monday to 5:00 PM in Cabell, Mason, Wood, Pleasants, Tyler, Lincoln, Putnam, Kanawha, Roane, Wirt, Calhoun, Ritchie, Doddridge, Mingo, Logan, Boone, Clay, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Harrison, Taylor, Upshur and Barbour counties in West Virginia.

Air service at Yeager Airport was already feeling the effects of the storm.

All USAirways and United flights to and from Washington, D.C. on Monday and Tuesday have been cancelled, as have American flights to and from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Monday flights to and from Chicago and Houston were also canceled on Monday.

Tomblin Updates West Virginians on State’s Readiness in Preparation for Severe Weather Conditions

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin this evening provided West Virginians an update regarding the state’s readiness, in preparation for severe weather conditions associated with Hurricane Sandy.

“While the path of Hurricane Sandy is more defined today, we cannot be certain of the impact this storm will have on our state. For this reason, we are preparing for all scenarios and asking West Virginians to be prepared. Gather batteries, flash lights, bottled water, non-perishable food items, blankets, medications, a battery-operated radio and other necessities. Be sure to check on each other—family, friends and neighbors,” Governor Tomblin said. “Our West Virginia National Guard and other resources are on stand-by, so that we may act quickly if needed. Our Department of Highway staff is on call and ready—they have tested their plows and other snow equipment and are scheduled to begin work at midnight tonight. Additionally our utility companies are making preparations.”

Although there remains some uncertainty with Hurricane Sandy’s final course, forecasts predict the lower elevations to receive rain or snow, the Eastern and Northern Panhandles to receive severe rain and flooding, and the mountainous regions to receive as much as 2 feet of snow in the higher elevations.

The state’s emergency response team is holding two conference calls a day with local, state and national emergency responders. The Office of Emergency Services is open and monitoring the situation and state agencies remain vigilant to ensure public safety and are preparing for the storm.

For more information on how you can prepare, please visit: www.ready.wv.gov.

Frankenstorm: The Hype Is Real

If you thought those threats of a super storm or Frankenstorm were over the top, think again says National Weather Service Meteorologist Joe Merchant.

“It’s really a worst case scenario!“

Sandy is expected to hit land sometime on Monday.

Once that happens, Merchant says they will have a better idea of just how powerful the storm is and what the impact will be on West Virginia.

Until then, Merchant says we should prepare for the worst.

“It’s going to bring snowfall to the eastern and southern parts of the state that are in the higher elevations,“ says Merchant. “And then mostly rainfall, although we can’t rule out snowfall, in the lower lying areas.“

How much snow?

Merchant says Snowshoe could see up to two feet of snow by the time Sandy moves out. Places like Elkins and Beckley could see up to a foot of snow.

As for the western half of the state, Sandy will bring a mix of snow and rain. We could see 3-6 inches by the time everything is said and done.

The experts say this is not a storm you want to underestimate.

“It is definitely a major storm,“ says Merchant. “I can tell you as a meteorologist I was skeptical earlier in the week. But this has really evolved into a major event in a major storm.“

Merchant says all his years in the business he’s never seen a hurricane and an upper level low collide like this. That’s what’s creating the “perfect storm” we’re seeing come together.

Mon Power Prepares For Hurricane Sandy and Coming Storm

Officials with Monongahela Power are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst as Hurricane Sandy continues to push toward the eastern United States, threatening wind, rain, snow and possible widespread power outages.

Todd Meyers, a spokesperson for Mon Power, said Friday that the company had requested assistance from more than 1,600 utility workers and planned to move between 500 and 600 crew workers to impacted areas in West Virginia.  However, he said the utility would likely be competing with other companies for the same workers.

The large, slow-moving hurricane is set to collide with a cold front and could produce large snowfalls in higher elevations in West Virginia.  The wet, heavy snow falling with leaves still on trees can cause severe power outages, Meyers said.

“It’s a huge effect, Meyers said.  “We’ve had these ice storms before or early snow storms with leaves on the trees.

“That’s a problem,“ Meyers continues.  “If you look out your window, there are a lot of leaves on the trees.  We’ve been down the road before and the heavy, wet snow bends the tree over and breaks them.  When that gets into the line, you have a lot of trouble.“

Meyers said no Mon Power workers are getting vacation time until all power is restored.  He said if the storm is a rain event with only light winds, power outages will be minimal.  However, it’s better to get ready for the worst-case scenario, Meyers said.

“We’re in the process of hoping for the best but preparing for the worst,“ Meyers said.

Meteorologists have yet to determine how much the storm will affect West Virginia.  If it comes as mostly rain, flooding could become a problem.

Meyers said if West Virginia is mostly spared, workers will be sent to other areas like New Jersey to help keep the power on.

Anyone wanting to report problems to Mon Power should call 1.888.LIGHTSS.

WV Officials Urge Residents to Prepare for “Frankenstorm”

Officials in West Virginia’s easternmost county are using the storm that is threatening the East Coast to remind residents to prepare for the worst.

Forecasters have said there is a good chance much of the coast will get hit with gale-force winds, heavy rain, flooding and maybe even snow.

Hurricane Sandy, now in the Caribbean, is expected merge with a winter storm and a blast of artic air, creating what forecasters are branding “Frankenstorm.”

Officials suggest having enough nonperishable food, water and supplies like batteries, hand-crank radios and flashlights on hand for themselves and their pets for at least a week.

WV Fall 2012 Foliage Report: Peak Expected in Several Areas Next Week

Leaves at the highest elevations of West Virginia are starting to show their fall colors and are expected to peak within the next week to 10 days.

Reports indicate excellent color at Spruce Knob, Harman, the headwaters of the Greenbrier River, Cheat Mountain, Point Mountain, Kumbrabow State Forest, Kennison Mountain and Cold Knob.

The areas where we see early color are those of higher elevation with a mix of northern hardwoods, including maple, gum, ash, beech and birch.

Other elevations where oaks are more prevalent will peak in mid- to late October.

You can visit Elkins for the Mountain State Forest Festival September 29 through October 07, 2012.

Foliage in Randolph County is reported to be 70% peak, and recommended drives are Dry Fork Road from Harman to the Sinks of Gandy and Whitmer Road to Spruce Knob.

In Webster County, where foliage also is reported to be at 70% peak.

You can drive WV Hwy 15 from Webster Springs to Valley Head.

The Highland Scenic Highway/WV Hwy 150 in Pocahontas County has some good color as does County Route 17 from Thornwood to U.S. Hwy 33 at Wymer.

Foliage in the state’s 20-county northern region, which includes the Northern and Eastern Panhandles, is not as advanced, but there is color to be seen there.

State foresters offer several recommendations, including drives, hikes and events for weekend fun.

A drive along WV Hwys 28/55 to Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest is reported to be beautiful, with a variety of red, yellow and orange leaves.

U.S. Hwy 50 to Mt. Storm is also a recommended drive in Grant County. Foliage in Grant County varies from 40% peak at higher elevations to 20% in the lower areas.

Hikers will want to check out trails in Berkeley County, including Beacon Tower Trail, Old Still Trail, Eagles Nest Overlook and Devils Nose via the Tuscarora Trail. Color currently is limited to approximately 10% peak in Berkeley County, but foresters in the Eastern Panhandle expect an especially vibrant fall season due to plenty of rainfall coupled with warm, sunny days and cool, frost-free nights. Explore the area now to find sites for future leaf-peeking excursions.

Smokey Bear and his forestry friends will be at the Preston County Buckwheat Festival this weekend, September 27-30, 2012. Foliage in the higher elevations of Preston County is 15% peak, while lower elevations are 10% peak. In Hampshire County where foliage also is 10% peak, be sure to take U.S. Hwy 50 to Capon Bridge for the 5th annual Founders Day Festival. The festival is Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30, 2012.