Mason County residents experience severe flooding linked to data center construction
Residents in Mason County, West Virginia, are experiencing severe flooding in their homes, which they attribute to the construction of an AI data center by Monarch. The company acknowledges that its temporary erosion controls failed due to intense rainfall and is working to address the issue and reimburse residents for damages. Local residents express concerns about safety and potential long-term issues like mold.
Residents along University Lane in Mason County, West Virginia, including Helen and Bob Humphre, have experienced unprecedented severe flooding in their homes, which they attribute to the construction of a new AI data center by Monarch in their backyard. The Humphreys, who have lived in the area for decades, state they have never seen such flooding before this construction began.
Monarch, the company developing the "Monarch commute campus," acknowledged that while their storm water controls were found to be in compliance with the approved plan during a recent inspection, the intensity of the recent rainfall exceeded the temporary erosion controls' design capacity. A section of silt fencing reportedly gave way under the force of the water, contributing to the flooding.
The company has since fixed the damaged fence and stated they have plans to prevent future flooding, offering to reimburse residents for damages. Despite these assurances, neighbors like Mrs. Humphre expressed significant safety concerns, particularly regarding their children, and worries about potential long-term issues such as mold due to the water exposure under their homes. WSAZ's Ariana Mintz reported from Mason County.