BEECH BOTTOM — Residents of Beech Bottom on Monday were still contending with a shortage of water following the severe storm which affected the area April 29.

Mayor Becky Uhlly said the village was awaiting an independent contractor to replace pumps serving its water treatment system on Monday.

Uhlly said like many areas of Brooke County, Beech Bottom was without power from last Tuesday night into Thursday night.

“When the power came on, the pumps didn’t,” she said, adding efforts to start them with a generator were unsuccessful.

Uhlly said customers north of 49 Hill Road were being served through a hose by the Hammond Public Service District, resulting in much lower volume and pressure than normal.

For this reason, customers have been urged to conserve water and to boil the water they receive.

The village serves a total of about 250 residents and businesses.

Uhlly said it’s unclear why an emergency tie-in between the Beech Bottom and Hammond PSD systems isn’t functioning.

She expressed appreciation to Hammond PSD officials, who have attempted to raise the level of pressure as much as possible under the current circumstances.

Uhlly said the village ordered about 4,000 gallons of bottled water and has been distributing two cases to each affected household.

She noted state Del. Jimmy Willis, R-Brooke, stepped in to help with the distribution when he visited Beech Bottom to offer help.

The mayor said the Brooke County Emergency Management Agency was looking into a water buffalo for the village but was told one may not be available.

She said it’s been a challenging week for many residents because the wastewater treatment system operated by the Brooke County Public Service District also was disrupted temporarily by the storm.

The disruption led to raw sewage backing up into basements and emerging from storm drains.

Uhlly asked residents for their continued patience.

Last Wednesday, the Beech Bottom Volunteer Fire Department invited the many residents without power to its station so they could partake of grilled hot dogs and other food and charge their cell phones.

Uhlly said as with many other areas, the storm wreaked havoc in the village.

Among many trees brought down by its high winds were two that blocked Park Avenue and others that caused the south end of High Street to be closed.

Noting siding and shingles also were blown from homes, Uhlly said, “I can’t believe the damage. That storm went through here in 10 minutes.”

The Brooke County EMA has asked Brooke County residents, businesses and nonprofit entities with property damage to submit details online or by phone.

Greg Moore, the agency’s director, stressed doing so won’t guarantee property owners will receive funds for their damages but will help to show sufficient damage has occurred to warrant a disaster declaration by the governor’s office and possibly secure federal assistance.

Property owners may submit their damages through an online survey at emd.wv.gov/disastersurvey. It also can be accessed through a QR code posted on the Brooke County Emergency Management Agency’s Facebook page.

Those without Internet access may call 211 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. or (304) 737-5002 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.