Immediately after the June 23 flood which destroyed much of southern West Virginia, people around the state and country sprung to action to help. Millions of dollars in supplies were shipped. Area fire departments, civic organizations, church groups and individuals flocked to the area to cook meals, distribute supplies and even get into the trenches for clean-up work.

 

Included in that delegation of assistance was Director of Bridgeport Emergency Services Laura Pysz. After 16 days of service in Greenbrier County, her assignment has been extended.

 

And she’s OK with that.

 

“I am so blessed to have this experience to help and to learn,” she said. “And I’m so thankful to have such an amazing and supportive husband to take care of things back home. Steve has been cheering me on, been my rock to lean on and my ear when I need to vent or talk about things I have seen or experienced.”

 

Pysz said she is also thankful that the City of Bridgeport administration has allowed her to have the opportunity to serve and accept the extension to stay longer. She is receiving her regular pay while working flood relief.

 

When originally dispatched to Greenbrier County, her job was to manage donations and volunteers – spontaneous and planned – coming into the county.

 

Besides those assigned tasks, Pysz has been working closely with Senator John Unger and Non-Governmental Organizations "NGO" with regard to long-term recovery.

 

“We pull those groups together – southern Baptists, Mennonites, AmeriCorp, Samaritans Purse – just to name a few – to work together and not be stepping on each other’s toes or duplicating work,” she said.

 

Under Senator Unger’s guidance, Pysz has created a resource guide for Greenbrier County.

 

“So, if someone is needing shelter or pastoral care, they can go through the guide and see who is there in the county working that could offer those services,” she said.

 

Greenbrier County is at an important crossroads and is moving forward, Pysz said. The county still have a long way to go, but is ahead of others which were affected by the flood.

 

“We are creating the blueprint for other counties to use,” Pysz said.

 

Though conditions are still desolate, progress can be seen.

 

“Instead of debris all over yards, streets and houses, you now see debris piles all over,” Pysz said. “You see memories and furniture in piles and it is heartbreaking what all needs to be pitched. Bleach, lime and clean water are now the residents’ best friends.”

 

Her work at the Emergency Operations Center “EOC” is on a day-to-day basis. In addition to coordinating and managing volunteers and donations, she answers phones, fields questions, creates spreadsheets, updates boards with data, works with sheltering and feeding needs, works with the National Guard – representatives which are in the EOC at all times – and FEMA.  

 

Representing the Army National Guard at the EOC is Captain Justin Elliott (pictured right),  who happens to be a Bridgeport resident. Pysz has also been working with U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Tim Woods (left) of Grafton.

 

Pysz serves as the contact person for various projects implemented by those groups and others. The West Virginia National Guard, for example, set up tents, showering and laundry facilities at Greenbrier West High School. 

 

Insofar as community help, the biggest need at this time is money, volunteer skills and time, Pysz said. Although the supplies have been greatly appreciated, there is a sufficient amount in Greenbrier at this time.

 

“The problem is that we are running out of places to store all the donations coming in,” she said. “They will have the need for things in the future, but until we can disperse what we have, we are struggling to find places to send trucks.”

 

During her service in Greenbrier County, Pysz has bounced away from hotel to hotel. In general, vacancies are hard to come by, she said. 

 

Her daughters, 9-year-old Danica and 6-year-old Ziva, have been very good sports about their mom being away.

 

“My girls have been very understanding that I can’t always Facetime, but they are tickled to death when we finally get to,” Pysz said.

 

She did get to make a visit home this week to spend time with her family. Wednesday was she and Steve’s 18^th wedding anniversary. For several hours, at least, things were back to "normal."

 

“I saw Steve for a few hours before he went to work, then I caught up a little on my Bridgeport office work,” she said. “Then I went to Kroger and home to do some laundry.”

 

After sleeping in her own bed, she was up bright and early Thursday morning to attend a local meeting, then head south to resume duties at her temporary workplace.

 

Pysz is pictured (far left) with (left to right) Barb Miller, Jefferson County Director of Emergency Services and acting Public Information Officer at the EOS; Al Whitaker (seated), Greenbrier County Emergency Manager; Dean Meadows, Wyoming County Emergency Manager and acting Debris Specialist at the EOS; Paula Brown, Greenbrier County Deputy Director of Emergency Services; Theresa White, Homeland Security Region 5 Area Liaison.

 

 

Pictured below (left to right) are Chris Van Alstyne, FEMA FCO; Lesli Remaly, FEMA; Barbara Miller, Jefferson County HSEM, Public Information Officer; Jeremy Bott, FEMA, Brent Clevinger, WV National Guard; Harold Brummett, FEMA; Paula Brown, Deputy Director-Greenbrier County EMA; Al Whitaker, Director-Greenbrier County EMA; Dean Meadows, Director-Wyoming County EMA/Debris Manager; Capt. Steve Moore, WV National Guard; Laura Pysz, Director-City of Bridgeport, WV/Volunteer Coordinator and Donations Management; Peter Herrick, Jr.-FEMA Public Affairs; and Anthony Buller, FEMA. In addition to these folks, I want to give a shout out to Kelly Banton, Floodplain Manager; Cheyenne Banton; WV Senator John Unger, and all of the wonderful resilient residents of Greenbrier County.

 

These individuals have become Pysz’s family at the Greenbrier County EOS.

 

“In addition to these folks, I want to give a shout out to Kelly Banton, floodplain manager; Cheyenne Banton; West Virginia Senator John Unger and all of the wonderful resilient residents of Greenbrier County,” Pysz said.