Cleanup continues in western McDowell County
Panther Volunteer Volunteer Fire
Department Chief Billy Conyers has been running non-stop since the rain came
down. He was on his own last Wednesday night trying to check on those trapped
in their homes due to high water. Three of his own firemen were unable to get
out of their houses.
Conyers says only four or five
houses actually were flooded with water inside the living quarters. One of
those homes was washed off the foundation and eventually caught fire and
burned.
But beyond total destruction is
mild aggravation to hardship for those who are now forced to walk in and out of
the hollow to get anywhere.
The water in the crawlspaces has
created a big problem for the areas residents. The fire department is
instructing them to spray diluted bleach under their homes to prevent mold
development.
Right now, the people are coping as
best they can and waiting on word on whether they can get the money to begin
work on the bridges.
The damage spreads over several
areas including Panther, Bull Fork, Butterfork, Mud Fork, Greenbrier Hollow,
and Trap Fork. Conyers said state emergency officials are looking at ways to
get low interest loans for victims to help rebuild bridges and private roads in
the area.
