Up to 7 inches of rain triggers flash flood emergencies
Torrential rains swept across West Virginia on Tuesday night, producing flash floods that inundated homes and businesses, washed out bridges, and prompted numerous water rescues, authorities said. The National Weather Service in Charleston issued warnings of life-threatening conditions in some communities, using capitalized urgency in its alert.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties Tuesday night, allowing state agencies to coordinate resources and deploy personnel as needed. He sent 100 members of the West Virginia National Guard to the hardest-hit areas in the northern part of the state. An additional 200 Guard members were expected to arrive by late Wednesday morning, the governor’s office said.
“State and local agencies will remain on the ground for as long as it takes to help affected communities,” Morrisey said in a statement.
Forecasters reported that up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain fell in some locations, producing flash flooding that damaged infrastructure and left roads impassable.
Bob Pfister said the power remained on at the hotel where he was staying in Weston, even though the first floor was inundated. Most people planned to stay put until Wednesday morning, he said.
No deaths were immediately reported, authorities said.