Commissioner: Almost 97 percent of Clendenin Elementary damaged in flood

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Almost the entire Clendenin Elementary School was damaged in last month's historical flood.

Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy tells WSAZ county inspectors have concluded that 96.9 percent of the school was damaged. The report was released Monday. Hardy says the county will report now that information to FEMA.

Last week Kanawha County Schools announced students at Clendenin Elementary will attend Bridge Elementary for the beginning of the school year while the county still assessed the damage. The 2016-17 school year begins on August 8.

If the damage assessment is under 50 percent the Kanawha County Commission would not have to enforce proper compliance to FEMA guidelines, according to a county spokesperson. If it exceeds 50 percent, as it does in this case, the commission is required to ensure that the KCSD meets FEMA requirements.

This is the second school to suffer more than 50-percent damage.

More than 70-percent of Herbert Hoover High School was damaged in the June 23 flood, totaling more than $12M. During a community meeting, Superintendent Ron Duerring announced Hoover would never reopen, but a new school would be built in that same area within three years.

At the beginning of the school year, Hoover students will attend Elkview Middle School. The two schools will share the facility and go half days until a modular campus can be built for the high school students.

WSAZ is reaching out to Kanawha County Schools to find out the future of Clendenin Elementary.

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