At least four people, including a 3-year-old child, are dead and others remain missing amid severe storms and flooding in West Virginia this weekend
Multiple inches of rain reportedly fell in the state’s Ohio County in a nearly 30-minute time span, overwhelming local waterways and infrastructure
“I’ve seen major floods here in the city and the county. I’ve never seen anything like this,” a local emergency management director said
At least four people, including a 3-year-old child, are dead and four others remain missing amid severe storms and flooding in northern West Virginia this weekend.
During a news conference on Sunday, June 15, Gov. Patrick Morrisey confirmed the casualties after a rainstorm hit the area the night prior.
“This is a very difficult time for Ohio County and West Virginia,” Morrisey said.
CBS affiliate WTRF reported that 2.5 to 4 inches of rain fell in parts of the state’s Ohio County in a nearly 30-minute time span, overwhelming local waterways and infrastructure.
The Ohio County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are now taking part in rescue efforts to help find the missing people, as well as identify others who have not yet been reported missing, the governor said.
Lou Vargo, the Ohio County emergency management director, said at the news conference that two missing people were found after the flooding began on the evening of Saturday, June 14.
He added that 19 “swift water rescues” were also performed.
Morrisey has declared a state of emergency in the county, and the National Guard may be asked to take part in recovery efforts, he said during the news conference.
CBS News reported that cars were pulled into overflowing waterways, people climbed into trees for safety and one fire broke out during flash flooding on Saturday.
“It happened so quickly and so fast,” Vargo said, adding, “I’ve been doing this for 35 years. I’ve seen major floods here in the city and the county. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“We almost immediately started getting 911 calls for rescue of people being trapped,” he continued. “During this time, we had major infrastructure damage to roads, bridges and highways, where we couldn’t respond to a lot of incidents. So we were delayed in getting there because there was just so much damage.
Police spokesperson Phillip Stahl told WTRF that the flooding was also unlike anything he had seen in the area.
“The creeks rose pretty quickly,” Stahl explained. “There was a massive amount of debris — debris that most people have never seen in their lives. But that was going down the creek. There were boats going down the creek sheds, furniture, gas tank, hot water tanks, conex boxes [shipping containers]. It was a pretty unbelievable sight to see.
Morrisey added during the news conference that damage assessments will begin on Monday, June 16.
About 2,500 people were still without power, residents in the town of Apple Grove did not have access to water and more than a dozen bridges and roads were closed throughout the county.
Ohio County EMA shared a list of resources for residents, including information about where to report missing persons, where to bring donations and where an emergency overnight shelter is located.
“My No. 1 priority and that of everyone on our team, and those in the local community — it’s to identify the missing individuals,” Morrisey said.
