Bath County emergency officials report on storm damage

Hot Springs, Va. – Praise for Bath County officials and it’s citizens was given at Tuesday night’s Bath Board of Supervisors meeting. County Supervisor and Bath Emergency Services Director Kevin Fry and Emergency Services Coordinator Andy Seabolt gave a joint report on the recent storm. Seabolt said Bath acted quickly and decisively with declarations of emergency to get resources to the county. He quoted damage figures at about a $1.4 million dollars total, with $1.3 million dollars of that being a loss for public utilities. Losses to private residences are estimated at $60,000, losses for local businesses at about $300,000 and agricultural losses are estimated to be $430,000.

And Bath’s Emergency Services Director Kevin Fry shared his thoughts at the meeting.

“I’d like to take this time to thank the citizens of our community and all those that helped us out over the trying times we had over the last week,” says Fry. “To the citizens of Bath County Virginia, thank you. You have proven once again something I have always known. We are not just a county, but a community. Your willingness to help your neighbor played a big part in how fast the county is recovering from the storm. Your individual efforts may never be known, but rest assured they are appreciated. The area business community also stepped up when called upon to help. Many of you put your community ahead of your business needs. Your efforts, experience and use of equipment were vital to our recovery. Thank you for helping your community.”

“To the first responders in our community, I cannot say thank you enough. Your response Friday night along with volunteers in our community in opening our roads for emergency vehicles and citizens was key in our recovery efforts. Your efforts in providing food, shelter and support truly shows the dedication you have to your job and your community. A special thank you to the Bath County Public Schools your willingness to open your schools and provide employees to assist us is greatly appreciated. And to our BARC employees, VDOT, the PSA and TDS Telecom, and your contractors, thank you. Your hard work, long days and short nights and time away from your families was appreciated. The Red Cross and Virginia Baptist Disaster Food Kitchen efforts to feed those in need was amazing. We were not only able to service our community, but reach out and help neighboring localities as well. To our local Red Cross volunteers, thank you for your time and effort.”

“And last, but not least, to the employees of the county, thank you for your service to our community. Your hard work and dedication will be instrumental as we continue to recover from this situation. And I’d like to thank Becky Armstrong and the role she took as the leader of LEPC over all those years. For our Local Emergency Planning Commission was instrumental in how we recovered from this storm. I’d like to put a special thank you out to them and all those that set that committee up.”

For more from Tuesday night’s Bath Board of Supervisors meeting, tune into Noon Hour on Thursday.