Senator Justice Reflects on 10 Years Since Historic 2016 West Virginia Flood

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV – Today, Senator Jim Justice released the following statement remembering the lives lost and reflecting on the strength of West Virginians 10 years after the June 23, 2016, flood: “It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since the 2016 flood shook West Virginia to its core. I’ll never forget that day as long as I live, and I know so many West Virginians feel the same way. Most importantly, we will never forget the 23 precious lives we lost. The water swept in quickly. It ripped through communities without mercy. It brought devastation that’s hard to put into words. We now know it was a historic 1,000-year flood, but to the folks who lived through it, it was a moment that turned our world upside down. Families lost their homes. Businesses were destroyed. Schools were damaged. Some folks lost everything they had worked a lifetime to build. It was tragedy after tragedy. But if there’s one thing we know about West Virginians, it’s this: we may get knocked down, but we always get back up. When our people needed each other most, everyone showed up to help. Our National Guard, our first responders, churches, volunteers, and neighbors all stepped up. Folks opened their homes, lent a helping hand, and stood shoulder to shoulder. Neighbors helped neighbors, strangers became family, and West Virginia pulled the rope together. A decade later, the tragedy is still etched into all West Virginians. The pain and the memories are ours to carry, and there isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t think about those we lost. But it also tells a story of rebuilding, loving your neighbor, and the greatest sense of community. We rebuilt. We restored. We came back stronger. Roads were repaired, schools reopened, and businesses rebuilt. No matter how high the water rises, the heart and spirit of our state will always rise higher. I ask everyone to take a moment today to honor the 23 lives that we lost, and may we never forget what makes West Virginia so special.” # # #