BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — As severe winter weather gripped Martin County in recent weeks, local officials, departments, and volunteers mobilized to ensure that residents were safe and that vital services continued to function. Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty praised the effort Thursday at the conclusion of the Martin County Fiscal Court meeting.
The judge also urged residents to join the county’s volunteer emergency response team by stopping by the Emergency Services office and signing up. He announced plans to meet with responders and staff this week to review the response to the storms and to discuss improving the response.
Road workers shoulder task
The Martin County Road and Bridge Department, operating with a skeleton crew of just five men, shouldered the herculean task of clearing over 130 miles of county roads, some of them multiple times, while enduring 13-hour shifts and a barrage of icy conditions. The crew spread 70 tons of salt across treacherous surfaces and removed over 40 fallen trees.
“They were just worn out completely, but they never gave up,” Lafferty said Thursday. “So is it a perfect effort? No. It’s never going to be perfect. Are there places that we couldn’t get to? There’s always going to be because you have to hit the largest road first and then work your way down. Certain roads can’t be scraped. If you scrape gravel roads all you’re left with is a mudhole and then it freezes.”
Despite the challenges, including low wages of $14 to $15 per hour with no benefits, the road team persevered.
Lafferty compared the current situation to his first term from 1999 to 2003 when coal severance tax revenues allowed the county to employ 25 to 30 road workers.
“Our county was based on a coal economy that we no longer have,” he said. “But you always have heroes who stand up and take the fight upon themselves—and that’s what these men did for us—the men of the Martin County Road Department.”
The fiscal court joined the judge in honoring road workers, thanking them personally.
“It’s not taken lightly; it’s not forgotten …We couldn’t have done it without you,” Lafferty said.
Water District prevents outages
Efforts by the Martin County Water District averted a crisis similar to those experienced in recent winters. As the storm loomed, Judge Lafferty conferred with the water district, led by chairperson Tim Thoma. According to Lafferty, Thoma preemptively located four backup generators and had them on standby.
When the Route 40 West pumping station lost electricity, the district installed one of the generators, which prevented a water outage to over 1,000 homes and businesses along Tomahawk, Rockhouse, Milo and Old Route 3.
“In 2022, we had to shut down schools, restaurants, everything because we didn’t have water,” Lafferty said. “This time, we were able to avert that.”
The judge praised the water district’s foresight and preparation.
“Good things are happening,” he remarked. “The water department did an excellent job, and I’m proud of their efforts.”
Coordination and volunteerism
Lafferty credited much of the storm response success to early coordination among emergency management, 911 and other officials. Public communication was key, with efforts bolstered by the Mountain Citizen newspaper.
“We worked well early on to get information out to people,” Lafferty said. “Information is only good if you pass it along.”
Volunteers played a crucial role, scraping roads, clearing driveways and delivering medicine to neighbors.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office was vital in assessing roadway conditions and relaying that information.
Local fire departments and the rescue squad did whatever they could to assist those in need.
Utility crews from Kentucky Power and Big Sandy RECC worked tirelessly to restore power.
The state road department “did a phenomenal job,” Lafferty said.
Warming centers provided essential refuge, with volunteers, including Virginia Madison Mooney, offering round-the-clock care at the senior citizens center in Inez.
“That’s what makes a community great,” Lafferty remarked. “In times of emergencies, you coalesce, come together, and take care of one another.”
Reflecting on the impact
Lafferty expressed gratitude that the storm claimed no lives in the county.
“It was a big storm and a lot of us were inconvenienced, but thank God we didn’t lose anyone,” he said.
“I’m very proud of the response of our government and of our people coming together and taking care of one another,” Lafferty concluded. “I know churches were involved as well.”