Flash floods in northern West Virginia have resulted in the deaths of four people, including a 3-year-old child, while rescue teams are on the lookout for several more individuals reported missing. Authorities are currently assessing the damage to vital infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and natural gas lines, following an intense rainstorm that occurred late Saturday night.
According to officials, parts of Wheeling and Ohio County experienced an extraordinary 2.5 to 4 inches of rain in just about 30 minutes. This sudden downpour overwhelmed local streams and waterways, causing widespread flooding in small towns east of the Ohio River, particularly in Triadelphia and Valley Grove, as reported by CBS affiliate WTRF.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed at a press briefing on Sunday that four residents are unaccounted for and warned that additional rain and flooding could follow. He is collaborating directly with officials from FEMA to manage the developing situation.
The unprecedented flooding swept away vehicles into swollen creeks, forcing some individuals to seek refuge in trees, while a mobile home caught fire amidst the chaos. First responders successfully conducted 19 swift-water rescues, as noted by Governor Morrisey.
“We almost immediately started getting 911 calls for rescue of people being trapped,” said Lou Vargo, Ohio County’s emergency management director, during the Sunday news conference. “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.”
Vargo expressed his astonishment at the speed and severity of the flooding, stating, “It happened so quickly and so fast. … 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.”
Jim Blazier, the fire chief in Wheeling, reported that rescue operations continued into the early hours of Sunday. First responders were regrouping on Sunday morning and focusing their search efforts in a region extending from the Ohio state line across the Ohio River to Wheeling Creek.
“We’re searching the banks, we’re searching submerged vehicles, any debris we find along the trail and so forth,” Blazier explained. “We’re using drones, search dogs, and swift-water personnel, and we have teams organized that are searching sectors that we’re trying to recover anybody that’s missing.”
As of Sunday afternoon, roughly 2,500 power outages were reported in the county. Restoration efforts have been complicated by the presence of natural gas leaks that must be addressed first, according to officials.
In response to the disaster, Governor Morrisey has declared a state of emergency in Ohio County. He coordinated a response with state police and other officials, instructing the National Guard to provide necessary assistance.
“Please keep this community in your prayers,” Morrisey urged in a statement on Sunday. “More storms are expected in the region today. Please follow all directives from local and state emergency management officials and do not attempt to drive through flooded roads.”
This weather event comes on the heels of heavy rainfall in San Antonio that occurred on Thursday, resulting in 13 fatalities as more than 7 inches of rain fell within several hours, leading to rapid flooding that carried numerous vehicles into a creek.