The Town of Martin and vicinity has been devastated by flooding events in 1957, 1963, 1977, 1984, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2009 and 2015. The April 1977 flood is considered the flood of record. Severe damage to residential and nonresidential structures led to Section 202 of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1981.
The project consists of three phases. Phase 1 included the creation of a public facility redevelopment site, emergency access road, and soil disposal area at Mayo Hollow. Public facilities included a Fire Station, City Hall, Police Station, Alternative School, and Senior Housing Center. Phase II consists of mandatory tract acquisition and demolition necessary for placement of fill material in the existing downtown area to create a second redevelopment site. The scope included the raising of Hwy 1428, the creation of a permanent green space, and multiple utility relocations. Tracts were prioritized for acquisition to support phased construction. The third phase includes the voluntary flood proofing and acquisition of eligible properties within the project area.
A recent band of devastating rain and snowstorms affected communities in Southern West Virginia, Southwestern Virginia and Eastern Kentucky and required the Huntington District to increase its operational response in the region.
The Town of Martin project Phase 1 Redevelopment Site, consisting of the relocated City Hall, Police Station, Fire Station, and School are well above the waters from Beaver Creek. This picture shows the raised Hwy 1428 and Phase 2 Redevelopment Site that just finished construction and not impacted by the high waters of Beaver Creek.
During this period of flooding, the Town of Martin Section 202 Project performed as designed.