Introduction

Dickenson County Non-structural Flood Damage Reduction Project (Section 202)

The Dickenson County Non-structural Flood Damage Reduction Project consists of voluntary floodproofing, relocations, floodplain acquisitions and demolition of structures, authorized under the Section 202 of the Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act of 1981. Section 202 was authorized by the Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act of 1981 and amended by Section 105 of the Energy and Water Development Act, 1997, as a response to flooding in the Tug and Levisa Fork basins. The Dickenson County is included in the Section 202 program because the April 1977 flood which caused damages in the Dickenson County project area. The minimum level of protection afforded to the voluntary non-structural participant is equivalent to the April 1977 flood or 1% annual exceedence event (100-year), whichever is greater. The Dickenson County Board of Supervisors is the non-Federal sponsor for this project. The Project Cooperation Agreement was executed in January 2006 with the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors, the non-Federal Sponsor, and had a 95% federal – 5% non-Federal cost share requirement.

The previous focus of the 202 Project was the relocation of the Ervinton High School, Sandlick Elementary School, and the lower buildings of Haysi High School and floodproofing of Clinchco Elementary School.  The Dickenson County Public Schools proposed an alternate plan to consolidate the county's three high schools, construct a new middle school, and replace the Sandlick and Clinchco Elementary Schools with a new elementary school. This alternate plan fulfilled the requirements of providing a flood-safe location for the schools in the Section 202 Program and was agreed to by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District (USACE).

A Detailed Design Report for the four schools was completed by the USACE in 2010 and the estimated cost to provide flood protection for the schools was calculated to be approximately $110.6M (Fiscal Year 2011 price level).

A Relocation/Floodproofing Agreement for the Clinchco Elementary School was executed in September 2010 whereby the Government (USACE) agreed to contribute $8.1 million towards the construction of replacement Clinchco Elementary School facilities in accordance with the Dickenson County Public Schools’ alternative plan of relocation/consolidation.  Subsequently, a Relocations Agreement for Ervinton High School, Sandlick Elementary School and the lower buildings of Haysi High School was signed in August 2011 whereby the Government (USACE) agreed to contribute $102.5 million towards the construction of replacement the Ervinton, Sandlick, and eligible Haysi School facilities in accordance with the Dickenson County Public Schools’ alternative plan. Construction of the consolidated Ridgeview High School, Middle School, and Career Technology Center was completed and opened for students in the August 2015. The construction of the consolidated Ridgeview Elementary School began in 2021 and is anticipated to be completed in 2023. The USACE is providing progress payments to the Dickenson County Public Schools as required work is completed.

The remaining project components include the voluntary floodproofing (i.e., raising the structure above the April 1977 flood level) and acquisition (i.e., purchasing the structure if it cannot safely be raised), of 162 eligible residential and commercial structures and the relocation of the Haysi Municipal Building. In April 2020 the USACE received the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Policy Implementation Guidance for the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-20) which provides completion of the project at full Federal expense. The previous 2006 Project Cooperation Agreement had a 95% federal – 5% non-Federal cost share requirement. The USACE finalized approval of a full Federal funding amendment to the 2006 Project Cooperation Agreement with Dickenson County Board of Supervisors and USACE executed the Amendment on October 29, 2020. Therefore, Dickenson County will not be required to fund 5% of costs for the voluntary floodproofing and acquisition of the eligible commercial and residential structures or the relocation of the Haysi Municipal Building. 

Eligible landowners received letter(s) providing information on voluntary floodproofing and acquisition eligibility and the application process. The Huntington District has been accepting and processing eligible applications since July 2020. The application period closed on April 30, 2022. During the application acceptance period, the Huntington District conducted multiple outreach events in the local community and provided the Dickenson County residents with information about the project, eligibility, and the application process.  After an owner’s application is processed and accepted the Huntington District will begin with the floodproofing and acquisition process.

For further information, please call:

1-888-841-9649