Charleston, WV — The West Virginia Rivers Coalition (WV Rivers) urges members of the West Virginia House of Delegates to strengthen Senate Bill 390, which has passed the State Senate and is now under consideration in the West Virginia House Committee on Government Organization and then, House Committee on Finance, to ensure West Virginia’s flood resiliency strategy prioritizes long-term prevention and mitigation, not just early warning technology.

WV Rivers supports early warnings — but warns against weakening prevention priorities.

“Any tool that helps warn people about imminent flooding will serve to reduce harm and hopefully save lives,” said Jennie Smith, Executive Director of West Virginia Rivers Coalition. “But warning systems are not flood prevention. West Virginia needs sustained investment in flood resiliency and mitigation measures, including nature-based solutions, that reduce risk before the next storm hits.”

WV Rivers is concerned that changes proposed through SB 390 could weaken the existing structure of the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund, including eliminating required percentages for nature-based solutions and investments in low-income communities. These changes make it harder to ensure funds are used equitably and effectively.

A 2024 study from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Allstate, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that every $1 invested in resilience and disaster preparedness saves $13 in economic impact, damage, and cleanup costs after a disaster.

“Flooding doesn’t impact every community equally,” Smith said. “If the Legislature removes the guardrails that ensure nature-based solutions and investments reach low-income communities, we can’t guarantee how these dollars will be used — or who will be protected.”

That’s why West Virginia needs a flood strategy that starts long before the rain begins. Nature-based solutions are critical to our flood mitigation and preparedness, and it means implementing strategies for stream and floodplain restoration so they can hold water safely. Investments in wetlands and riparian buffers that slow flooding and protect water quality are necessary.

WV Rivers calls for amendments to SB 390 and related legislation.

WV Rivers is urging lawmakers to amend SB 390 to:

• Maintain the structure of the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund, including clear priorities and accountability;
• Provide additional investment to the Resiliency Trust Fund, beyond a single early warning system initiative, especially nature-based solutions; and
• Commit to preparedness and recovery support for all communities by investing in the Flood Recovery Trust Fund.

Additionally, investments must be made to the Flood Recovery Trust Fund for a holistic approach to addressing the threats of flooding. We urge lawmakers to ensure communities are well prepared and have recovery measures that help communities respond when floods occur.

WV Rivers raises key questions that remain unanswered in current proposals, including:

• How will an early warning system operate during power outages?
• How will communities benefit if they lack resources to respond after receiving an alert?

“The dilemma isn’t just failing to warn people soon enough,” Smith added. “It’s also whether communities have the resources to respond — and whether the state is investing in flood prevention so fewer people are put in harm’s way in the first place.”

Smith continued, “We urge West Virginias to call their State Senators and Delegate, as well as the Governor to urge they invest more in West Virginia’s flood resiliency and recovery.”

New report highlights statewide disaster trend and need for dedicated infrastructure funding

WV Rivers’ position is further supported by a new report released by Rebuild by Design, titled Atlas of Disaster: West Virginia, which documents the state’s escalating pattern of disasters and outlines opportunities for resilience investments.

The analysis finds that West Virginia experienced 23 federally declared disasters between 2011 and 2024, costing taxpayers more than $950 million in FEMA and HUD Assistance. All 55 counties have experienced major disasters during that time, with Lincoln County experiencing the highest number (12 disasters). Of the 23 major declared disasters, 19 involved flooding and 17 involved landslides or mudslides, highlighting West Virginia’s persistent and costly flood risk.

“West Virginia communities know the devastation caused by flooding all too well,” said Carrie Decker, Community Engagement Manager of West Virginia Rivers. “It will take collaborative effort across the state to address flood prevention and mitigation. We appreciate the partnership with Rebuild by Design to approach this issue with data and science in order to advance the economic development priorities of the state.”

Rebuild by Design calls for new, dedicated, long-term funding sources for resilient infrastructure upgrades — including sewer system improvements, road elevation, voluntary relocation from high-risk areas, and green buffers that reduce flood risk.

WV Rivers agrees that West Virginia must shift from reaction to prevention — and that the Legislature has an opportunity right now to strengthen SB 390 so that flood resiliency policy includes the sustained investments needed to protect communities, critical infrastructure, and local economies.

Read the report: The Atlas of Disaster: West Virginia report and accompanying tools are available through Rebuild by Design at rebuildbydesign.org/west-virginia.

We know that West Virginia is facing increasingly frequent and devastating flooding events driven by steep topography, extreme precipitation, aging infrastructure, continued development in flood-prone areas, and climate change. Historic disasters like the November 1985 floods (approximately $700 million in damages and 38 fatalities) and the June 2016 floods (approximately $1.1 billion in damages and 23 fatalities) demonstrate the scale of risk across the state.

In 2025, West Virginia experienced two severe flooding events, including one in the Southern region in February and another in the Northern region in June — further underscoring the urgency of investing in resiliency before the next storm hits.

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About WV Rivers Coalition:
West Virginia Rivers Coalition is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting clean and healthy West Virginia waters for all. Learn more at WVRivers.org.

About Rebuild by Design:
Rebuild by Design is housed at the Institute for Public Knowledge at NYU and works with communities and local governments to co-design policies, projects, and programs to adapt to the worsening impacts of extreme weather. Learn more at RebuildByDesign.org.