1. United States
2. W.V.
3. Letter

To West Virginia’s Congressional Delegation and State Leaders, Stop patting yourselves on the back over a $4.5 million FEMA award that barely scratches the surface of the devastation in Lewis and Upshur Counties. Calling this a victory is an insult to every family, business owner, volunteer, and first responder still struggling to recover. Lewis County officials have already estimated that rebuilding the schools alone will cost approximately $6 million. One project. One county. Before accounting for damaged roads, bridges, water and sewer infrastructure, emergency services, parks, businesses, and countless homes. Yet we’re supposed to celebrate $4.5 million spread across two counties? That isn’t leadership. It’s political theater. While you issue press releases and congratulate yourselves, our communities are still cleaning out mud, replacing possessions, repairing public infrastructure, and wondering how they’ll afford the next step in recovery. Local nonprofits, churches, mutual-aid groups, and ordinary citizens have carried an enormous share of this burden while elected officials race to claim credit for funding that is plainly inadequate. West Virginians don’t need photo opportunities. We need relentless advocacy. Fight for additional FEMA assistance. Fight for every available federal recovery program. Fight for infrastructure dollars, housing assistance, and long-term mitigation funding. Stop treating the first check as the finish line. These floods will affect our communities for years. Recovery doesn’t end because a press release has been issued. Your responsibility is not to declare victory. Your responsibility is to keep fighting until our communities have the resources they need to rebuild. Do your jobs. Bring home the funding West Virginia deserves, and don’t stop until the work is done.