When you come from a place like Fairmont – a small town in north central West Virginia – you learn from an early age the value of hard work and coming together as a community, especially during difficult times. West Virginia has always been a part of who I am; everything from my childhood in Fairmont to working for 25 years for a West-Virginia-born company – Mylan – that I now have the privilege to serve as CEO.
I was devastated to see the destruction from last month’s catastrophic flooding in the southern part of the state. Classified as a 1000-year-event, indicating the unlikely severity of the rains, the sudden flooding resulted in at least 23 fatalities, hundreds of lost homes, millions of dollars in damages and sweeping economic impact across the region. White Sulphur Springs, Rainelle, Richwood, and Clendenin were among the hardest hit areas. In total, 12 West Virginia counties were declared federal disasters by President Obama, and nearly 8,000 individuals in the state have requested FEMA assistance.
Despite the immediate and generous response by so many people eager to help in the aftermath of the flooding, the hardest part about rebuilding a community comes long after the news cameras leave and the national spotlight turns to the next crisis. Beyond even the emotional and psychological impact of losing a home, a business, a job and irreplaceable family keepsakes, the long term economic set-back these communities face is devastating and deep. While West Virginia flood survivors are safe and physically healing, significant long-term needs remain.
Rebuilding these communities requires a long-term commitment and a vision that goes beyond just clearing rubble. Many of the towns impacted in the West Virginia storms were struggling to begin with and they need a results-oriented approach to rebuilding that will not just restore, but rejuvenate, the entire community.
This is why I am so excited that West Virginia businesses and community leaders have partnered with a leading national disaster recovery nonprofit organization, SBP, to launch Homes for West Virginia with the goal of working to help rebuild homes, restore lives and rejuvenate the communities affected by flooding. Homes for West Virginia’s first initiative is Homes for White Sulphur Springs, where Mennonite Disaster Services will help build “Hope Village”, a housing development for flood victims featuring 42 homes and a community park. Building affordable, permanent housing is a foundational step in providing for the longer term economic recovery of the region as the effort in many instances will rely on the services of local tradespeople to build the village and will offer opportunities for discouraged laborers to receive job training through the construction effort.
As CEO of Mylan, a company founded in White Sulphur Springs in 1961, I’m calling on others to join me in providing financial support to this important initiative as well as time and energy to rebuild the community through business leadership and expertise.
Turning tragedy into opportunity requires that we work hard and come together as a team – values I know first-hand to be core to West Virginians’ identity.
Heather Bresch is CEO of Mylan, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. Mylan was founded in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. and now employs more than 40,000 people worldwide and markets its products in more than 165 countries.