Persistence Pays! OVEC Members Win Sludge Warning System

Boone County contains 19 coal sludge impoundments high in the mountains, and numerous sediment ponds sitting above neighborhoods and communities. Sludge dam breaches and failures have happened before in West Virginia, and residents fear that homes and neighborhoods could be annihilated with little or no warning if there were a major impoundment failure.

For the past four years, Boone County residents and OVECs Boone Organizing Team have worked hard, and this Reverse 911 system is now up and operating! The people in Sylvester got their first test call on July 15, 2008.

This system will supply folks in Boone County with information on what to do if one of the area sludge dams breaks. This could potentially save many lives.

Thanks to all of the dedicated volunteers who made this happen this was quite a long effort! The active involvement of people from throughout Boone County showing puiblic officians that there was widespread concern, was instrumental to our success.

We would also like to thank the Boone County Commission and Greg Lay of the Boone County Office of Emergency Services for their commitment to the people whom they represent. Now lets get to work on the individual community evacuation plans.