Flash floods in northern West Virginia have led to the tragic deaths of five people, with three others still missing. The severe weather struck on Saturday night, dumping between 2.5 and 4 inches of rain in just about thirty minutes in areas like Wheeling and Ohio County.
Emergency services were quickly overwhelmed as calls for help flooded in. Lou Vargo, the emergency management director for Ohio County, reported that rescuers faced significant delays due to damage to roads and bridges. “We had major infrastructure damage,” Vargo explained. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my 35 years of experience.”
The flooding was so intense that vehicles were swept away, and some individuals had to climb trees to escape rising waters. In addition, a mobile home caught fire amidst the chaos.
Marion County, located south of Wheeling, also experienced swift flooding on Sunday, damaging homes and infrastructure. The local Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management reported over 165 calls for assistance since the storm began. In response to the crisis, Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency in Marion County on Sunday evening.
Rescue efforts continued into Sunday morning, focusing on areas along the Ohio River and Wheeling Creek. Fire Chief Jim Blazier stated that teams were using drones and search dogs to locate missing individuals, scouring the banks and submerged vehicles for any signs of life.
As of Sunday evening, there were about 2,500 reported power outages in the area. Governor Morrisey confirmed the death toll had risen to five, with three people still unaccounted for. He mobilized the National Guard to assist with emergency operations, emphasizing the urgency of finding those missing.
“This is a unique event,” Morrisey noted, describing the narrow area that received such heavy rainfall in a short time. “It’s very difficult to manage.”
The devastating rains in West Virginia followed similar severe weather in San Antonio, Texas, earlier in the week, where over 7 inches of rain caused widespread flooding and claimed 13 lives.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this disaster, local officials and first responders remain focused on rescue efforts and assessing the damage.