WILLIAMSON – Mingo County has a company in place to work at moving debris from recent area flooding, thanks to a plan by Mingo’s Office of Emergency Services.

At MCC’s regular meeting Wednesday, Dadoo Trucking of Matewan was awarded the contract for debris removal for the county.

The company will be paid with funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The company was one of three on a pre-approved list, according to Jarrod Fletcher, director of emergency services for the county.

In order to avoid wasting time during a disaster situation, Fletcher says the OES has a plan in place statewide. Part of that plan was to assemble a list of companies who would bid on jobs such as debris removal before a disaster, such as the May 9 flood, took place. Those companies have worked with Fletcher and the MCC to confirm they are capable and have proven to have the equipment and expertise to perform the massive amounts of work that need to be done in the clean up of the county.

Three companies were on that list, and submitted bids to the commission, based on a per-ton charge to remove debris to the dumpsite in Johns Creek in Pike County.

“Companies have contacted us from as far away as North Carolina,” said Commissioner Greg “Hootie” Smith. “Contractors have come out of the woodwork. Having this plan in place has really helped.”

The price quoted for the debris removal is $119 per ton. Fletcher and the commission said they felt comfortable with this price.

“After the 2004 flood, FEMA set the price they would pay for debris removal at $140 per ton,” Fletcher said. “This is far above the price we are paying Dadoo Trucking.”

He added that if the price FEMA agrees to is lower than $119 per ton, Dadoo Trucking has agreed to perform the work for the price approved. However, if the FEMA approved price is higher, Dadoo Trucking will still honor the $119 per ton price.

Commission President John Mark Hubbard said this is the first of many contracts the commission will award due to flooding.

In other flood-related matters discussed at the meeting, the commission praised the people of Mingo County for their hard work and dedication to helping each other since the flood.

“I have been working with some generals with the National Guard,” Commissioner Smith said. “They said there have been disasters in all 55 counties in the state, they have responded to 59 FEMA declared disasters, and what they have seen in Mingo County is the most organized, and has the most cooperation of any disaster they have been in. That reflects on our people and our Office of Emergency Services.” Smith added that the Guard has over 600 guardsmen deployed in Mingo County.

“Words are inadequate to convey our appreciation of what people have done,” Hubbard said. “Church groups, civic organizations and coal companies have stepped forward. Coal companies have saved millions of taxpayer dollars helping to repair roads, remove materials and stabilizing homes and creek banks.”

Paul McCallister, Director of the Tug Valley chapter of the American Red Cross, was at the meeting to introduce Don Iverman, a Red Cross Government Relations officer.

Iverson said he was, as a native West Virginian, proud of the way he has seen people pull together in Mingo County.

During the meeting, a check was received for the flood relief effort. Cotiga Development donated $7,500 to the Red Cross. It was one donation of many, Hubbard said, noting that a special bank account which will be used solely to receive and distribute funds for flood relief.