Catastrophic flooding slams West Virginia prompting Flash Flood Emergency from NWS
WESTON, West Virginia — Dangerous flooding is ongoing across parts of West Virginia early Wednesday after powerful severe storms dumped more than 7 inches of rain in parts of north-central West Virginia, prompting the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue a Flash Flood Emergency for life-threatening floods amid hundreds of calls for assistance.The floods prompted Governor Patrick Morrisey to declare a State of Emergency across all 55 counties late Tuesday.No deaths or serious injuries have been reported. First responders said they received hundreds of calls for assistance in the wake of a Flash Flood Emergency that impacted Lewis, Randolph and Upshur counties.Gov.Morrisey said 100 National Guard members would arrive across those counties overnight Tuesday.Interstate 79 remained closed due to flooding in the Weston area early Wednesday.The National Weather Service designated the warning as a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) — a rare designation reserved for the most extreme and life-threatening flash flood events.
The Flash Flood Emergency was in effect until 10:30 p.m.ET.Gov.
Morrisey’s Office issued a State of Preparedness earlier in the day, ahead of the severe weather. More than 7 inches of rain fell in Upshur County in a roughly 6 hour span beginning Tuesday afternoon.Gov.Morrisey said the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources conducted at least 33 water rescues Tuesday.The City of Buckhannon issued an Immediate Evacuation Order early Wednesday for parts of the city due to “rapidly escalating hazardous conditions.”Officials in Lewis County declared a local state of emergency after widespread flooding damaged public infrastructure, private property, roads, bridges, culverts, utilities and other critical facilities, according to the Lewis County Commission.The emergency declaration authorizes the Lewis County Office of Emergency Management to coordinate all available local resources and request additional assistance from the ...