Widespread Flooding Drives West Virginia Schools to Remote Learning Despite Inadequate Internet Access for Students
Widespread flooding due to heavy rains over the weekend during what is typically West Virginia's wet season of snow and rain, led to school building closures and remote learning mandates on Monday. According to WVPolicy.org, as of 2018 West Virginia had a 16% poverty rate overall and a 24% child poverty rate. This is in comparison to a pre-pandemic poverty rate of 12% overall for the U.S. and puts West Virginia at the fifth-highest poverty rate of all U.S. states and territories. Indexmundi.com lists McDowell as the most impoverished county in West Virginia with an overall poverty rate of 35% and several counties not far behind with over 25% poverty rates. Households in poverty are hit harder by and have a more difficult time recovering from natural disasters. Low socioeconomic status is also a barrier to internet access, particularly as many companies require credit checks or hefty deposits. West Virginia's wild mountainous terrain is not only prone to natural ...