Amazing response for flood victims

Shawn Parker, captain in the Marion County Sheriff Department, sums up West Virginians to a “T.”

The state may lag other states in many financial and health rankings. But the people have each other’s backs in times of need.

Such as the flooding that hit Mannington and Farmington and Worthington and other areas of Marion County.

Let Shawn tell the heart-warming story:

“I have spent the past two days in Mannington gathering data so we can try to get them some federal help & I have learned a lot about the people of Mannington, Marion county & WV.

“Mannington is a very tight-knit group of people! Of the hundreds of them that I have spoken to 98% of them were in good spirits, always smiling or laughing even with all they have just been though. When asked if they needed anything they all would say ‘No, we don't need anything. Give it to those are worse off.’ Even those who lost everything would say that.

“It was neighbor helping neighbor. Marion County citizens stepped up like I’ve never seen before with all the donations. I saw people driving around handing out water, cleaning supplies, even parking their vehicles and helping the people of Mannington clean up the debris left by the flood waters.

“I saw fire departments helping their brothers. Police departments doing the same. EMS driving around handing out food. Our Army Reserves with their boots on the ground helping everyone. I even saw one of our own County Commissioners 4 or 5 times in different houses helping with whatever he could.

“It just goes to show that, if something happens in our great state, we are WV tough and have each other’s back!”

Shawn is a North Marion graduate who lives in Monongah with wife Colleen Parker.