Dave Mistich Published

W.Va. Committee on Flooding to Get Updates on RISE, FEMA, Richwood

Flood

The West Virginia Legislature’s Joint Committee on Flooding is set to meet Tuesday in Charleston. State lawmakers established the panel following devastating floods in June 2016 that claimed 23 lives and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.

A 10-member committee comprised of senators and delegates will hear from speakers about issues related to past flooding in the state as part of a one-day interim legislative session.

According to the committee’s agenda, Major General James Hoyer of the West Virginia National Guard will provide an update on the RISE recovery program. The initiative was handed over to Hoyer in June last year amid reports that state commerce officials had been slow in spending money to rebuild homes.

Hoyer and other state officials will discuss federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

State auditor John B. McCuskey is scheduled to speak to the committee about his office’s investigation into the city of Richwood’s finances.

In March, four current and former officials there were charged with embezzlement. Some of those charges stemmed from the misuse of public funds earmarked for flood recovery.

Officials from the state purchasing division will also be on hand to answer questions from the committee.