As the National Guard begins their cleanup efforts in Logan and Mingo counties, Congressman Nick Rahall is calling for a solution to flooding on Island Creek.

Guardsmen were working throughout Logan and Mingo this morning, helping with the cleanup of the flood that covered the coalfield areas with mud and debris Sunday after 2.5 to 3.5 inches of rain fell early Sunday morning.

“We’ve got boots on the ground and the National Guard is actually moving trash this morning,” Logan County Emergency Services Director Roger Bryant said. “They’re just doing curbside pickup and won’t be coming onto private property. All flood debris and trash has to be placed on the curb and they’ll pick it up.”

Bryant said volunteers are needed to help elderly homeowners take their flood materials to the curb. He said volunteers or those with flood debris can call 752-7662.

Residents of Mate Creek, Meador, Newtown and Red Jacket lost their water service last night when a mud slide near a water tank on Mary Taylor Mountain pulled pipes out of the ground and took the road leading to the tank with it.

“We don’t know how long it’ll take to fix it,” Lois Justice, the utility board chairperson for the Matewan water system said. “We do have a water buffalo and drinking water on the way and that’ll be set up at the mouth of Meador. Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden got the water for us. We don’t want people to go without water, so we called him and he arranged for us to get the water buffalo and drinking water.

“It will take some heavy equipment to get in there to fix the problem,” Justice continued. “They’ll have to rebuild the road and everything. But, the situation is being evaluated this morning to see what needs to be done and how long it will take.”

While Matewan-area citizens are without water, Island Creek residents are hoping for a way to prevent more water from flooding their homes.

Congressman Nick Rahall said in a press release last night that he is working to secure federal funding for the Island Creek Protection Project, requesting additional funding for the construction.

According to the release, Rahall has already helped secure more than $2 million for the design and implementation of the project.

"Recent flooding in our State, which I witnessed first-hand on Sunday in Logan County and other areas, has again screamed out the importance of projects such as this," Rahall said in the press release. "Over the last decades, we have worked on the flood problem around Island Creek and, along with help from local and state officials, have been working to solve the problem. Over the last six appropriations cycles I have worked with my colleagues