CONGRESSMAN BOUCHER SECURES $19.5 MILLION IN PRESIDENT’S BUDGET FOR DICKENSON COUNTY

Funding Will Provide Flood Protection for Dickenson County Schools

            (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today that, at his urging, President Obama has included $19.5 million in his budget for the Dickenson County flood protection project. The funding will be used to address the flood protection needs of the County’s schools.  

            “In 1977, the County experienced devastating flooding affecting hundreds of homes, businesses, schools and other locations within the County. Many of these structures, including schools, remain in the floodway leaving students and occupants at high risk of injury during a flood,” Boucher said. “I have worked closely for many years with Dickenson County officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to identify a flood protection plan which would ensure the safety of Dickenson County students.”

            The greater part of Dickenson County lies within the Russell Fork drainage basin which flows into the Levisa River. Flooding is a frequent occurrence in this area, and some floods, such as the flood of 1977, have been devastating. In 2003, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a Detailed Project Report (DPR) which outlines structural and non-structural alternatives to reduce flood damages from a recurrence of the 1977 flood or 100-year flood, whichever was greater. The DPR identified a number of homes, businesses and public buildings within the floodplain for flood protection or relocation, including Ervinton High School, Haysi High School, Sandlick Elementary School and Clinchco Elementary School. “Dickenson County officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agree that providing flood protection for the County’s schools is the highest priority,” Boucher noted.

            “With this plan in mind, I had extensive discussions with senior White House officials to urge that the President’s budget include funding for the Dickenson County flood protection plan. I am pleased to report that as a result of my conversations with the White House the President has included $19.5 million in his budget for this purpose,” Boucher said. “This provision of funding will enable Dickenson County in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the County’s School Board to design and construct a project to address the flood protection needs of the County’s schools.”

            Under current federal law, the Dickenson County flood protection project is eligible for 95 percent of its costs to be provided through federal funding sources. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the cooperation of Dickenson County is completing a Detailed Design Report (DDR) which will include specific items and costs related to the design of the plan that would provide flood protection to the County’s schools. Once the DDR is completed, the County will formally undertake the plan and construction on the project can commence.

            “This is a huge boost for Dickenson County,” Roger Stanley, Chairman of the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors, remarked.  “This funding will allow the County to do things for our kids that we couldn’t otherwise do. It allows us to do the impossible. I am grateful to Congressman Boucher for obtaining this funding for the county.”

            “I am extremely pleased that the President has included federal funding for the Dickenson County flood protection project in his budget. The project will truly transform the County, providing protection from future devastating floods, ensuring the safety of students attending Dickenson County schools and offering a major improvement in the quality of life for county residents,” Boucher concluded.

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