Welch residents still reeling from flooding

WELCH, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Located deep in the mountains of southern West Virginia, the town of Welch has been hammered by historic flooding through the years — and they did not escape the latest round.

The downtown area in particular was one of the hardest hit in McDowell County.

WSAZ’s Tim Irr, who visited Welch earlier this week, said one of the first things you notice is the unmistakable smell of river mud. In mid-February, the bowels of the Tug Fork spilled out all over the streets and deep inside the buildings along McDowell Street.

“There’s four foot of water in here from the river,” one flood victim said.

Irr saw the destruction firsthand, saying the tally of damaged buildings is repeated over and over again. He also visited with Roberto Diaz, who operates a taco restaurant that has become a full-time food mission.

How long it will take to clean up, disinfect and rebuild the riverfront park and all the other places ravaged by the river is anyone’s guess, as people in what was historically known as Coaltown USA try to decide what’s even worth saving after another historic flood.

Diaz and his wife, who opened Latin Appalachian Restaurant three years ago, said they haven’t once asked for donations, but the donations of food and water and money are pouring in.

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