West Virginia Neds Help Due To Flooding

On June 23rd, 10 inches of rain fell in just a few hours in West Virginia, causing floods that were simply devastating. According to meteorologists, this was a "1,000-year flood" and the deadliest anywhere in the United States since 2010.

News reports showed homes in flames as they floated down the s w o l l e n river, and the town of Rainelle was described as " l o o k i n g like a war zone." DG David has spoken to DG John Powell of District 7550 in West Virginia, and he told how many of the communities served by his Rotary clubs have been shattered. "Twenty-three people died, and two are still missing from the floods," he said. "Five thousand homes have been completely destroyed, along with numerous roads, bridges, schools, and libraries"

Of course, we know something in District 7500 about the devastation that flooding can cause, as Superstorm Sandy is still fresh in our memories. The winds had barely died down from Sandy when we received help from Rotarians around the country, and even from abroad. I am therefore asking for us all to help our fellow Rotarians to show how "Rotary Serves Humanity" in West Virginia.

1: Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our own foundation, the Rotary District 7500 Foundation. Mark your checks "WV relief" and mail them to Harry Welsh, 115 N. Church St., Moorestown, NJ 08057

2: We will suggest that District 7550 host a Global Grant to provide some long-term assistance, which we could support with some District Designated Funds, and this would then earn matching funds from The Rotary Foundation. .

3: Entire libraries-full of books were destroyed by the flood waters. Both schools and public libraries now have no books. We would therefore like to start a book drive for West Virginia. If you would consider being on a committee to coordinate this campaign, please contact PDG John Hammer, chair of our Disaster Relief Committee at 609.509.4414. For the public libraries, we need undamaged, unmarked books—no paperbacks or trashy novels, please! If you have a contact where we might be able to obtain school text books (all grades), please let John Hammer know. We will deliver the books at the end of July