In June 2025, devastating flash floods hit Wheeling and the Ohio Valley, marking the second major flood to strike West Virginia that year—the first having ravaged the southern coalfields just months earlier. Once again, elected officials were slow to act, offering press conferences instead of concrete relief.
In the absence of real leadership, Ohio Valley Mutual Aid stepped in to lead a volunteer-powered response to clean out homes, deliver supplies, and support neighbors on the ground. Bluejay Rising helped power that response by launching a statewide fundraising campaign to support OVMA’s flood relief work. The funds went directly toward muck-out tools, bottled water, disinfectants, and hot meals for impacted families. Just like in the coalfields, it was everyday West Virginians—not politicians—who showed up. Bluejay stood in solidarity with OVMA to prove that when the government fails, mutual aid doesn’t.