Novotney: Battling Back from Tragedy in Ohio County
There was a storm warning that came across our phones, and it mentioned something about flash flooding as it had before. And then it rained, hard in most areas of Ohio County, but then it stopped, and all was good. At least that’s what most believed. But what was happening in Valley Grove, Triadelphia, and Elm Grove was writing a much different, tragic, deadly story as many residents were forced to cling to what kept them from being swept away in what’s been described as white-capped water that claimed most of what was in its path. Everything from storage containers to backyard swing sets was consumed, and nine individuals – from 3 to 83 – lost their lives. Thousands of pounds of debris were cleared from the affected communities in Ohio County, and it was gradually hauled away over the weeks following the fatal flooding. Now, one year later, some wish to remember, and some, understandably, want to be left alone. As many as 500 folks attended the unveilings and dedications of the memorials yesterday at the Triadelphia United Methodist Church, and now the names of the victims will be remembered by all who visit. Michael Bokanovich, Michael and Connie Veronis, Lisa McMasters, Jesse Pearson, Kyleigh and Parker Shotton, Travis Creighton, and Sandra Parsons. But anyone who pumped out of their basements, or shoveled muck, ripped out walls, found a porch chair a mile down the road, and continues to battle back today needs to be honored as well. Sure, FEMA and the SBA finally arrived and were able to assist those who suffered material loss, but nothing can replace the photos, the diplomas, the birthday cards, the jewelry, the wedding dresses, or the first-step booties. More than 100 automobiles were destroyed by the flash flooding that took place one year ago this weekend. They know that now, and so should we. While several residents were permanently displaced and others have refused to return and rebuild, many residents who were directly affected have been forced to bend with nature, to live without answers, and to endure one “worst day” after another “worst day.” There are forever triggers, too; things as simple as a thunderstorm, the smell of dried mud, the sight of a crumpled car, and even the sound of a weather alert on our cell phones, and only time has the chance to heal those invisible wounds. Anyone traveling U.S. Route 40 through Triadelphia and Valley Grove these days can see the scars, the water marks, the empty lots, and the new construction, but what they don’t learn on those drives concerns the current residents, their communities, and their collective resolve to rise above and resurrect. Those will be the next stories to tell. Read the full article
