When floodwaters rise, so does the need for leadership

sexton8
Aug 4
4 min read

Updated: Aug 6

Greenbrier County, June 2016. Photo courtesy of Kayla McCoy.

The recent catastrophic flooding in West Virginia is more than a natural disaster — it’s a painful reminder of the devastation our communities faced in 2016. Many of us still carry the scars from those floods. We remember the families who lost everything, the roads that disappeared overnight, and the long, grueling recovery. But we also remember how quickly the government showed up to help.

Back then, President Obama declared a major disaster just days after the storm. FEMA was on the ground almost immediately, bringing aid, expertise, and comfort to families in need. It was a moment when the government worked as it should — swiftly, compassionately, and competently.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Democrats warned about Project 2025 — a far-right blueprint that would decimate federal agencies, including FEMA. Donald Trump dismissed the warnings. “I’m not an extremist at all,” he said, distancing himself from the authors of the plan and denying any involvement.

Fast forward to 2025.

West Virginia has already suffered two major floods this year.

The first struck February 15–16, impacting 17 counties across the state. Homes were destroyed, businesses ruined, and entire communities cut off. On February 17, Governor Patrick Morrisey requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Trump. Four counties — McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, and Wyoming — began receiving assistance by late February. The others waited.

Meanwhile, on February 21, the Trump administration fired 200 FEMA employees as part of a sweeping wave of federal agency layoffs. An estimated 1,000 more FEMA staff have since taken voluntary buyouts. This comes on top of a pre-existing staffing shortage — FEMA and the Government Accountability Office acknowledged a 35% workforce gap in 2022. The true number today may be even higher.

By March 20, FEMA designated only seven of the 17 affected counties as eligible for federal disaster assistance. For everyone else, the silence was deafening.

Then came another blow. Over Father’s Day weekend, a second flood struck — this time devastating Ohio and Marion Counties, killing at least eight people. It wasn’t until July 22, more than a month later, that President Trump finally approved federal recovery funds.

And throughout it all, Governor Morrisey’s public response to the slow and inadequate federal action was—at best—muted. He issued brief, vague statements about “working with federal partners” and “continuing to assess needs,” but offered no public criticism of the delays or the thousands of West Virginians left in limbo. No pressure campaign. No televised pleas. No demands for equal treatment or full support. In a time when his voice could have made a difference, he chose silence over advocacy.

All of this has taken place as President Trump has publicly floated the idea of gutting FEMA altogether. In remarks to supporters earlier this year, he questioned why taxpayers should "keep footing the bill for disasters in places that should be handling it themselves." He went further, suggesting that states should take on full responsibility for disaster relief and recovery — a move that would effectively dismantle the federal government’s ability to respond when tragedy strikes.

This is more than just rhetoric. It's a policy blueprint that would leave places like West Virginia, already stretched thin and under-resourced, without the federal backup we’ve relied on for generations.

And it stands in stark contrast to how the administration responded to flooding in Texas earlier this July. Within days, a Disaster Declaration was issued. The President and First Lady flew in to offer their condolences and support. Not once during their visit was there a mention of FEMA cuts or transferring the burden to state budgets.

Let’s be clear: West Virginians aren’t asking for special treatment. We’re asking for equal treatment. We’ve seen what responsive leadership looks like. We know what happens when FEMA is fully staffed and empowered to act. And now we’re seeing what happens when it’s starved and sidelined — and when our own governor won’t speak up.

Disaster response should never depend on politics. It should depend on need — on doing the right thing for people who’ve lost their homes, their communities, and in some cases, their loved ones.

FEMA can’t help people if it doesn’t have the staff — or the presidential support — to show up. And Americans can’t recover from disasters without FEMA.

The next time the rain comes — and it will — what kind of country will we be? One that shows up for every community, or one that picks and chooses?

The choice isn't just about FEMA. It's about who we are when the waters rise.

We don’t have to sit back and let this happen. If you care about protecting FEMA relief for West Virginians, speak out.