Patrick Morrisey addressed two major water issues in West Virginia on Friday — infrastructure and flooding.
The governor announced $9.5 million in grant funding for five water and sewer projects in Mingo and McDowell counties, including a new water storage tank in Kermit. Morrisey also renewed his push for the Smart Environmental Notification Threat Response System, a proposed $10 million, three-year pilot program designed to improve flood prediction and response.
The system would be tested in nine watersheds and use artificial intelligence, rain gauges and wind data to monitor streams and provide warnings one to six hours before flooding. Lawmakers would still need to approve funding as the legislative session moves past its midpoint.