When floodwaters rushed through McDowell County in February, they came without warning. Rev. Brad Davis barely had time to grab his two cats before his home was swallowed by the deluge.
Now, four months later, Davis and the rest of his community are still trying to pick up the pieces in a place that was already battling economic collapse long before the storm.
“This flood felt like an apocalypse,” Davis said. “It didn’t just destroy homes—it exposed how deep our struggles already were.”
A County Hit Harder Than Most
McDowell County, located in the heart of southern West Virginia, was once a booming coal powerhouse. But as the coal industry declined, so did the economy. Today, McDowell ranks among the poorest counties in America.
Residents like Shawn Rutherford know the struggle firsthand. His home, perched along a mountain hillside, was severely damaged in the flooding.
“It wears you down,” he said. “Mentally, physically—just trying to hold on.”
Welch, the county seat, is symbolic of that decline. Once a thriving city, it now faces shuttered businesses, abandoned homes, and the recent closure of its Walmart—one of the last remaining major retailers in the area.
More Than Just Flood Damage
The February flood left at least three people dead, displacing families and destroying infrastructure. But recovery has been slow.
Roughly $12 million in federal relief has been allocated to the area, but locals say it’s not enough. The costs to rebuild homes, repair roads, and restore public services far exceed what’s been offered so far.
And the deeper challenges—poverty, addiction, and declining health—make recovery even harder.
According to U.S. Census data:
- Life expectancy in McDowell County is 12 years lower than the national average.
- The county has the highest drug overdose rate in the U.S.
Add to that a shrinking population and declining voter turnout—less than half of registered voters participated in the last election—and you get a community that feels abandoned.
A Community Fighting to Be Seen
Davis, who has worked with residents throughout the disaster and its aftermath, says the biggest burden isn’t just physical—it’s emotional.
“The people here feel like they’ve been forgotten,” he said. “Forgotten by the government, forgotten by the country. It’s like no one sees us.”
While recovery efforts continue, residents are calling for more attention—not just to rebuild from the flood, but to address the long-term decline that’s plagued McDowell County for generations.
For now, people are leaning on each other for support. But without broader investment and visibility, they fear future disasters—natural or economic—will only deepen their isolation.
As Davis put it, “We need more than just cleanup. We need a chance to survive.”
