Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders begins flood recovery in West Virginia

Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders has started long-term recovery work in Lewis and Upshur counties after July flooding damaged more than 1,600 homes. The nonprofit is focusing on cleanup, stabilization, repairs and rebuilding for families with unmet needs as local partners coordinate the response.

Why it matters: - More than 1,600 West Virginia homes were damaged in the July flooding, and many families now face months or years of recovery. - Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders is targeting homeowners who are uninsured, underinsured or otherwise unable to recover on their own. - The work focuses on Lewis and Upshur counties, where the most severe damage was concentrated. - The effort is designed to bridge the gap after emergency response ends and long-term rebuilding begins.

What happened: - Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders launched long-term recovery operations in Lewis and Upshur counties to help families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the July flooding. - Preliminary damage assessments identified more than 1,600 damaged homes across the affected counties. - The assessments found 33 homes destroyed and 227 with major damage. - The Christian nonprofit’s first phase will focus on cleanup, debris removal and property stabilization. - Volunteer teams will then move into repairs and, when needed, rebuilding. - The organization identified one of its first cases as an elderly mother with disabilities and her adult daughter, who also has a disability. - Floodwaters rose to nearly seven feet inside their home before emergency responders rescued both women through a roof opening. - Their home is now uninhabitable.

The details: - Bart Tucker, president of Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders, said the group intends to stay in the communities long after headlines fade. - The organization has spent more than two decades mobilizing volunteers for disaster recovery across the U.S. - FCDR specializes in long-term recovery rather than immediate emergency response. - Volunteer teams travel from across the country to restore homes for families facing financial barriers. - The nonprofit is working with local officials, Long-Term Recovery Groups, churches and nonprofit partners. - Recovery partners include Christ in Action, Hope Force International, Mercy Chefs, Weaverland Disaster Services and other organizations serving affected communities. - FCDR will identify homeowners with documented unmet needs to make sure its work complements existing assistance. - Volunteer mission teams will be housed at WVU Jackson's Mill near Weston. - The site will serve as a central base for projects throughout Lewis and Upshur counties. - As funding, materials and volunteer teams become available, FCDR expects to begin restoring flood-damaged homes and rebuilding those that cannot be saved. - Churches, civic organizations, businesses and volunteer teams are invited to help. - Skilled construction volunteers are especially needed, but people without construction experience can also serve. - Financial gifts are intended to help families whose needs exceed insurance coverage and government assistance. - More information is available at the organization’s website.

Between the lines: - The response highlights how disaster recovery often shifts from visible rescue work to a slower, less-publicized phase centered on housing stability. - Focusing on seniors, people with disabilities and low-income families suggests the nonprofit is prioritizing households least likely to rebound quickly without outside help. - Coordinating with local recovery groups and other nonprofits can reduce duplication and speed access to households with the greatest unmet needs.

What's next: - FCDR will continue assessing projects and matching them with funding, materials and volunteer crews. - Home stabilization is expected to come first, followed by repairs and full rebuilds where necessary. - Additional volunteer teams, skilled tradespeople and donations will determine how quickly the recovery effort expands. - The organization will keep working in Lewis and Upshur counties for as long as families need support.

The bottom line: - Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders is shifting from emergency relief to long-term housing recovery, aiming to help the most vulnerable flood survivors get back into safe, livable homes.