West Virginia families left stranded without access to homes after flood washed away bridge

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) — Two weeks after the devastating flood in Triadelphia, families are still grappling with the aftermath.

In the Springer Addition neighborhood, residents are not only dealing with damage to their homes but also with the loss of reliable access across the creek. 

On the far side of the creek, five occupied homes remain cut off. The only way for those families to come and go is on foot or using a side-by-side vehicle to cross the water. 

A wall of water, more than 20 feet high, swept through the area after a torrential downpour, overwhelming the bridge. 

However, Sarah Hall, a resident of Springer Addition, believes the water itself wasn’t what compromised the bridge. 

“Well, the first wave our bridge was holding. And when the shipping containers came down through that we’re loaded that second wave, it just you could hear it echo through the house. Our bridge held up against floods before, many many years. It’s been here since I was a little girl and it’s those shipping containers. I truly believe our bridge would still be here,” Hall said.

The Hall family has been using a zipline—provided by their neighbors—to transport food and essential supplies to their home. 

Now, the families are asking for support from the community to help rebuild the bridge and restore safe, reliable access. 

The families ask that anyone knows businesses or companies that do bridge repair to please reach out to them.

There are several ways to contribute to the effort to build a new bridge. The Middle Creek Elementary School teachers and PTA organized a Dine to Donate at Quaker Steak & Lube on July 8 from 3-10 p.m.

The families have also created a gofundme page.