Severe floodwaters submerging infrastructure and streets in West Virginia.
West Virginia is underwater. Torrential rains triggered catastrophic flash floods Tuesday night, washing out bridges and severing access to entire communities.
Severe floodwaters submerging infrastructure and streets in West Virginia.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency across all 55 counties. He immediately mobilized 100 National Guard troops to the hardest-hit northern regions.
An additional 200 Guard members are scheduled to arrive by late Wednesday morning.
“State and local agencies will remain on the ground for as long as it takes to help affected communities,” Morrisey stated.
Record Rainfall and Urgent Rescues
Forecasters recorded up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rainfall in isolated areas. The deluge prompted the National Weather Service in Charleston to warn residents of life-threatening conditions, urging them to “SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!”
Emergency crews spent Tuesday night and Wednesday morning pulling dozens of people from submerged vehicles. However, rapidly rising floodwaters completely blocked rescue teams from reaching some stranded individuals.
In Weston, muddy currents surged into local businesses, including a Walmart. Hotel guest Bob Pfister remained trapped on the upper floors of his inundated hotel.
“Right now this option is much better than a shelter and a life boat,” Pfister posted on Facebook, adding he planned to stay put unless the power failed.
Widespread Devastation and Collapsing Infrastructure
Emergency communication lines were jammed throughout the night in Lewis and Upshur counties, an area home to roughly 40,000 residents.
Lewis County Commissioner Agnes Quinn Queen confirmed first responders worked relentlessly in the dark to execute water rescues. “The devastation across our county is extensive,” she reported online.
The storm system severely damaged infrastructure across the state. In Fayetteville, a massive sinkhole swallowed a vehicle outside a local bar.
Officials shut down portions of Interstate 79, U.S. Route 48, and numerous secondary roads. The terrain was already heavily saturated after storms dumped more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain over the weekend.
Historical Benchmarks and Broader Threat
Tuesday’s destruction struck a decade after persistent heavy rains killed 23 people in the exact same region.
Data from a U.S. Geological Survey gauge revealed Sand Run creek near Buckhannon shattered a historical water level record. The creek surpassed a mark set during the catastrophic November 1985 floods, an event that killed 47 people statewide.
The severe weather extended far beyond West Virginia. The same storm system spawned possible tornadoes in the St. Marys and Belmont areas, and generated tornado reports stretching from Cincinnati to the New York City suburbs.
Despite the widespread destruction and numerous rescues, authorities have not reported any fatalities.
