MUB responds to July 29th Rain Event

UPDATED

August 5, 2021

On Wednesday, August 4th, the Monongalia County Commission unanimously voted to declare a state of emergency due to the July 29th flooding. It is important that anyone who suffered property damage due to this flooding event complete the damage assessment form on https://mecca911.org/ no later than August 11. Reports on this site are being compiled for submission to FEMA.

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On July 29th, Morgantown Utility Board crews responded to various calls for assistance due to extraordinary rainfall. This event was of such magnitude that it surpassed the precipitation amounts that led to flooding on June 13th of this year.

Rainfall amounts at our water treatment plant measured more than 4 inches. In other places across Morgantown, 6.5 inches of rain fell. Like the June 13th event, this amount of rainfall surpassed the flow capacity of stormwater systems designed to manage rain events of lesser intensity. This is no fault of MUB’s system. Such acts of nature are simply beyond what any reasonably constructed system could be expected to manage.

While anyone affected is welcome to file an insurance claim for damages caused by this rainfall event, if the June 13th storm is an indicator, those claims will most likely be denied. Damages caused by storms of this magnitude are classified as acts of nature and are not due to MUB stormwater or sanitary sewer failures. However, we will continue to submit claims on behalf of customers who wish to do so. What we do recommend is that customers completely document damages and reach out to their insurance carriers, independent of any MUB filings.

Please note that anyone impacted by the storm should report damages using the City of Morgantown’s portal at https://arcg.is/184T1G0. Persons impacted should also complete the form on the MECCA 9-1-1 portal at https://mecca911.org/. This is critical in identifying locations impacted and in compiling damage assessments for possible emergency declarations.

MUB staff will continue inspecting our system for damage and to determine if improvements are needed. If you have questions or need assistance, please give us a call at (304) 292-8443. You can also email us at mubmail@mub.org.