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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Seven now confirmed dead in West Virginia flooding, more rain on the way
A seventh death has been confirmed following flash flooding in Ohio County over the weekend. (Wheeling Fire Department's Facebook page | Courtesy photo) A seventh person died as a result of Saturday's catastrophic flash flooding in the Wheeling, West Virginia area, according to Gov. Patrick's Morrisey's office. The body of a 71-year-old woman was found at the Wetzel County dam. A three-year-old child and her mother were also among those killed in the flooding. Flash flooding began late Saturday evening in Ohio County, with roughly 3-4 inches of rain falling quickly Saturday. Two people remain missing as of Tuesday morning, according to the governor's office. Ashlie Howard, 38, was cleaning up after cooking dinner for her children Saturday evening when water started rising rapidly in the creek along her property in Triadelphia. 'The creek, I'm going to say, had risen six to eight feet in less than five minutes,' she said. 'It was absolutely insane.' The fast moving water forced Howard's trailer onto a neighbor's property, destroying her home along with a shed and vehicle. On Tuesday, she walked through the area where her trailer used to stand. She has recovered very little so far. 'The telephone pole that was next to my house is now underneath my trailer. Everything's destroyed,' she said. 'You can just see bits and pieces of my life, basically, stuck in the mud.' The flooding hit Marion County on Sunday, where rushing water demolished an apartment complex. No fatalities or injuries were reported. 'Over the past few days, I've watched as West Virginians have come together with an indomitable spirit to support our brothers and sisters in need,' Morrisey said in a statement on Tuesday. The governor has visited Ohio and Marion counties to assess the damage. 'Together, we will overcome our challenges and rebuild after these devastating floods.' Cleanup efforts are underway as volunteers are helping homeowners remove waterlogged walls and flooring and sort through damaged belongings. Several organizations are collecting items, including cleaning supplies, clothing, paper plates and utensils, and more, for those affected by the flooding. Hundreds of people remain without power in Ohio County, and crews are working to restore service. Morrisey's office said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is on the ground and working with state officials. Flood watches continue for much of West Virginia, including the areas already impacted by the weekend storms. Morrisey said there is the possibility of further flash flooding. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
New York Times
15-06-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
At Least 3 Dead in West Virginia Flash Flooding
At least three people died and several others were missing in West Virginia after flash flooding destroyed homes and washed away roads, officials said on Sunday. Louis Vargo, the director of the Wheeling-Ohio County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, said at a news conference on Sunday that rainstorms Saturday night quickly became dangerous in Ohio County, which is about 50 miles west of Pittsburgh. Roads remain clogged with debris as emergency workers try to rescue those caught in the storm, Mr. Vargo said. In a 30-minute period on Saturday night, 2.5 to four inches of rain fell, Mr. Vargo said, citing National Weather Service estimates. He said he had worked in emergency management in the county for 35 years. 'I've never seen anything like this,' he said. Officials did not provide details about the deaths. It was not immediately clear how many people were missing. Mr. Vargo said there were four or five people reported missing, but it's possible that they just hadn't turned on their cellphones or weren't getting phone service. He encouraged people to contact the emergency management agency if a loved one was missing. Jim Blazier, chief of the Wheeling Fire Department, said emergency workers were using drones, dogs and swift water rescue teams to look for those missing. More rain was expected in the area in the coming days. The National Weather Service said there could be another round of flash flooding on Sunday. Power outages were reported on Sunday afternoon, according to the Appalachian Power Company. Efforts to restore power were impeded by natural gas leaks, Mr. Vargo said. If power is turned on before a gas leak is fixed, it could cause an explosion. Gov. Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia declared a state of emergency in Ohio County on Sunday. Forecast risk of excessive rain for Sunday Some Moderate High
