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Dominion Post
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Dominion Post
Officials begin assessing flood damage in Marion
FAIRMONT — Damage assessments are now officially underway in Fairmont and Marion County, a week after flash floods swamped basements, submerged roadways and caused the partial collapse of an apartment building. Local emergency response officials spent Monday touring flood-ravaged areas with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and West Virginia National Guard. The guard's soldiers were among the first responders on the scene – which Adjutant Gen. Jim Seward said he appreciates, both for the response time and the idea of neighbors helping neighbors. 'We have troops and units who can respond from their homes,' the general said last week in Fairmont during an appearance with Gov. Patrick Morrisey. 'I thank the first responders that are here in the community,' the general said, 'because that's where the work happens.' Close to 170 Army and Air Force guard members from engineering and military police companies have been deployed to both Marion and Ohio counties, Seward said. The sudden storm on Father's Day dropped three inches of rain on Fairmont and Marion County in 30 minutes – and it was worse the evening before in Ohio County, where eight people died in the deluge there. In outlying Marion County as of Friday, Sycamore Hollow Road near Worthington remained the only road closed from the flooding, according to reports from the Division of Highways. Crews from the West Virginia Conservation Agency have also gone to work on the streams and creeks that jumped their banks while the storm raged. Meanwhile, the region this week is battening down for weather of a decidedly different kind. Temperatures were expected to crest at a near-record high of 96 Tuesday. Look for another high of 92 on Wednesday, the forecaster said. After that, the mercury will make a slight dip into the 80s for the rest of the week, with the threat of thunderstorms ever-present.
USA Today
16-06-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
'Never seen anything like this': Flash floods kill 5, leave 4 missing in West Virginia
'Never seen anything like this': Flash floods kill 5, leave 4 missing in West Virginia About 2-4 inches of rain fell within a matter of hours late Saturday, which quickly overwhelmed and flooded the Appalachian creeks and waterways. Show Caption Hide Caption Aftermath of catastrophic flooding in West Virginia An apartment building in Fairmont, West Virginia, partially collapsed following heavy rainfall and flash flooding. Flash flooding from torrential rains left five people dead and four others missing in West Virginia over the weekend. The Wheeling and nearby Triadelphia and Valley Grove areas were the most affected. Floodwaters came quickly Saturday night, June 14, stranding some cars and sending others careening down creeks, according to the Wheeling News-Register. The waters "pulled homes from their foundations and destroyed them. Massive pieces of debris − cars, large metal storage containers, refrigerators and more – crashed into bridges, forcing their closure until their structural integrity can be assessed," the newspaper reported. About 2 to 4 inches of rain fell within a matter of hours late Saturday, which quickly overwhelmed and flooded the nearby Appalachian creeks and waterways, reported. "Wheeling Creek rose from 3 feet at 8:45 p.m. to roughly 10 feet at 10:15," the website said. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency in the affected areas on Sunday, June 15. The emergency declaration makes it possible for state resources, such as the West Virginia National Guard, to be used for flood-related assistance, the Wheeling News-Register said. 'Never seen anything like this' "We almost immediately started getting 911 calls for rescue of people being trapped,' Lou Vargo, Ohio County's emergency management director, said at a news conference Sunday, June 15, the Associated Press reported. '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 added: '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.' Hard hit Texas city: Devastating flash floods leave more than a dozen dead in San Antonio Apartment building partially collapses In the town of Fairmont in Marion County, an apartment building partially collapsed Sunday, June 15, following the heavy rainfall and flooding, said. Water poured out of the building over a mountain of debris that shut down Locust Avenue. No injuries were immediately reported and residents of the building were being provided emergency shelter, according to local reports. "The storm was part of a stalled frontal system that has been bringing heavy rain to the region for several days," digital meteorologist Sara Tonks said. View of significant flood damage on Locus Avenue in Fairmont, West Virginia from flash flooding. #wvwx Link to the video: — Dillon Gaudet (@GaudetWeather) June 15, 2025 Flood watch still in effect A flood watch is still in place for the area, and locally heavy rainfall was expected Monday, June 16, and Tuesday, June 17, the National Weather Service said. The highest flash flood risk on Monday lies near Kentucky, the Central Appalachians, Virginia and North Carolina on Monday. On Tuesday, the flash flood threat becomes more restricted in the Central Appalachians, the weather service said.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Several anti-Trump ‘No Kings Day' rallies planned in WV this weekend
Hundreds showed up to the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston on Saturday, April 5, 2025, to take part in a nationwide Hands Off rally to protest the actions of the Trump administration. (Zachary Hiser | West Virginia Watch) As the nation's capitol prepares for a massive military parade to mark the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, organizers in several West Virginia cities are planning to mark the day with anti-Trump protests. 'No Kings Day of Action' rallies are planned for cities around the country, including Berkeley Springs, Bluefield, Buckhannon, Charleston, Elkins, Huntington and others. The events are in response to what the organization calls 'increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption' from the president and allies. 'In America, we don't do kings,' reads a statement on the website for a grassroots organization made up of hundreds of local groups. 'They've defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings.' An estimated 200,000 attendees, 150 military vehicles and 50 aircraft are expected for Trump's military parade in Washington, D.C. Saturday, according to news reports. The spectacle will cost an estimated $45 million, including $16 million to repair the streets of D.C. following the event. A spokesman for the West Virginia National Guard said Wednesday that the agency will not send personnel or equipment to participate in the military parade, but they do plan to send 200 members of the CERF-P team to support the Nation Capitol Region, at its request, as part of the Guard's standing missing to support events of its size. Trump has defended the cost of the event, calling it 'peanuts compared to the value of doing it,' in a recent interview with NBC News. 'We have the greatest missiles in the world,' Trump said. 'We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it.' To Dr. Kate Waldeck, one of the organizers for Saturday's rally in Huntington, the parade is another example of the 'massive' amount of money that Republicans want to divert from people who need it. The Trump-backed, 'big, beautiful bill' that passed the House of Representatives and is making its way through the Senate would cut billions in funding to Medicaid and food assistance to low-income Americans. 'We're seeing, increasingly, that our social safety net is going to be stripped away,' Waldeck said. 'And obviously, we hope that this political situation is temporary, but in the meantime, the reality is that we're going to have to build new networks for our people. So our theme for this [rally] is 'No Kings,' but we are taking that and extending it to just to… 'No kings, just community.' Huntington's event will include speakers, music, guided meditation for kids, bystander and Narcan training as well as a goods drive for Lily's Place, Harmony House and the local city mission, she said. 'We want to have a good time with our community, and we want to show our neighbors, especially even the ones that don't feel safe coming to events like this, so people who are minorities or noncitizens, that we're thinking of them,' Waldeck said. She added that everyone is welcome at the nonpartisan, nonviolent protest event 'as long as they adhere to the ground rules of no racism, no homophobia and transphobia.' Debra Kilgore of Mercer County Indivisible, is helping organize the event in Bluefield. 'I couldn't stay silent any longer,' Kilgore said of her reasons for protesting. 'I couldn't hope that someone else will take care of these issues and make and hold our representatives accountable, because it's not happening, especially in our state, where we have our Republican representatives in the federal government who are going along with everything. The Constitution grants Congress the power to levy tariffs, but they've allowed Trump to 'run the tariff show,' she said. 'They're letting it happen,' she said. 'And so, watching, I'll call them the enablers. I can't rely on somebody else to do something anymore.' While Mercer County, like the rest of West Virginia, voted overwhelmingly to elect Trump to a second term, Kilgore said as the year wears on, she's hearing from people that they no longer support the president. 'More and more people are saying, 'You know, I may have voted for Trump, but I didn't expect this,'' she said. 'Or people who never voted for Trump but in this area are afraid to say 'I'm not a Trump voter,' are starting to make their presence known.' The events Saturday come as protests against Trump's immigration policies continue in Los Angeles. The Trump administration is sending nearly 5,000 National Guard troops and Marines to the city, against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom, a Democrat, called Trump's move a 'brazen abuse of power,' according to news reports. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott deployed the National Guard across the state as more demonstrations are expected there Wednesday. 'Peaceful protest is legal,' Abbott wrote on the social media platform X. 'Harming a person or property is illegal & will lead to arrest. [The Texas National Guard] will use every tool & strategy to help law enforcement maintain order. Waldeck said she's concerned about the National Guard being deployed to respond to protests against Newsom's will, but she's not concerned about the protests themselves becoming violent. 'We are aware of the national situation obviously, and [host organization] 50501 is unwavering in its commitment to peaceful protest, so we will have event staff there trained in de-escalation in the event there are counter protestors etc,' Waldeck said. Cindy Stemple, chair of the Randolph County Democratic Executive Committee, said the event they're planning for Elkins will be a 'peaceful celebration of our country and flag.' The event will feature speakers and musicians. Anyone who wants to sing or play an instrument will be allowed to do so. 'I think the protests are generally going to be peaceful unless Trump and everybody incites the people,' Stemple said. 'That's kind of my feeling. Now, I'm not in LA, I don't know. I'm not in Texas. I'm not in D.C., but when you have somebody threatening a first right, First Amendment right, which is a right to peaceful protest, there's a problem.' Stemple said Saturday's event will be the Elkins community eighth anti-Trump and 'pro-Democracy' rally. At each one, they've also collected donations for community needs like flood relief for Southern West Virginia or contributions to the local food pantry, she said. 'We are trying to do something good most every time that we hold one of these — and I call it a celebration,' she said. 'We become friends [and] allies just standing up for our country and enjoying the time together.' The rallies are planned for: Noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Morgan County Courthouse in Berkeley Springs Noon to 1:30 p.m. at the corner of King and Queen Streets in Martinsburg Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at Bluefield Downtown Park, Federal and Commerce Streets in Bluefield Noon at Hart Avenue and Kanawha Street in Buckhannon 10 a.m. at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown 1 to 4 p.m. at Heritage Station in Huntington Noon to 2 p.m. at the state Capitol in Charleston Noon to 2 p.m. at Washington Street West and Jefferson Street in Lewisburg Noon to 1:30 at the Randolph County Courthouse in Elkins 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hampshire County Courthouse in Romney 3 to 4:30 p.m. at McMurran Hall in Shepherdstown 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Madison Elementary School in Wheeling More information is available at SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
McDowell county leaders provide recovery information, unveil 24/7 help line
WELCH, WV (WVNS) – Public officials gathered together in Welch on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, to provide some crucial information about flood relief efforts. We got some more sad news today as officials confirmed the second and third fatalities as a result of the flooding. We also learned that the West Virginia National Guard is officially boots on the ground in Welch, they will be helping out with anything they can. Warming centers, supply distribution open up across southern West Virginia Nearly 2200 people across the county are without water in their homes. There is no timeline yet for when those repairs will begin. The Superintendent of McDowell County Schools confirmed that the schools in the county will remain closed indefinitely. She added that it is still unclear whether or not the students will be able to return in-person at all this year, but they will do their best to adapt to the challenges and help their students matriculate to the next grade. One firefighter dies, another injured, while responding to McDowell County house fire They have also opened up a new help line, that will be staffed around the clock. Anyone who needs assistance in McDowell County can call the helpline, and anyone who wants to make a donation can call the number as well. The helpline phone number is (888) 929-4966. 'If it's a life-threatening event please call 911,' said Delegate David Green, who represents McDowell County. 'But if it is a situation where you are needing aid, you're needing help, whether it's running out of medications, you need to get to a critical doctor's appointment and you're not able to get there, this is the number for you to call. If you're needing help and you're not having heat in your home, any of those different types of things, call this number. Again, it will be staffed 24/7.' Officials also confirmed that they have been in contact with Governor Patrick Morrisey about applying for FEMA disaster relief funding. But before they get approval for that they need people to fill out a survey on how much damage they've sustained. You can find that survey online at if you can't get online to fill that survey out, you can pick up hard copy forms at any of the shelters set up around the county. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Two fatalities confirmed in weekend flooding in WV; Morrisey gives update on recovery efforts
Road crews clear debris from an underpass in Welch after flooding in the McDowell County, town. (@MorriseyWV X account) At least two people have now died due to flooding in West Virginia's southern coalfields, where already struggling communities were washed out in a torrent of rain that hit over the weekend. The two victims, Debbie and Donald Griffin, were from Welch. Gov. Patrick Morrisey said at least one other person is still missing in McDowell County, where search and rescue teams were active Tuesday. Morrisey said he spent Monday surveying damage across the coalfields, with specific stops in Mingo and McDowell counties. 'I first met some people who seemed to have lost everything …,' Morrisey said. 'I want to send a message that the state is looking to do everything possible through its efforts and its resources to be helpful.' As a state, the governor said agencies have taken on a 'unified response' in both cleaning up debris left by the flood waters and coordinating response efforts for those who need assistance. Five liaison officer teams from the West Virginia National Guard were working throughout the region while local and state emergency responders were combining efforts. Members of the West Virginia State Police, the state fire marshal's office and those with corrections were operating drones to survey damage from above and help concentrate recovery efforts in places that needed it most. Workers from the state Department of Transportation, the Division of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection, among others, were also on the ground. Morrisey said a bright spot in the ongoing devastation across the coalfields was how West Virginians — and those from outside the state — have stepped up to help their community through donations and cleanup efforts. He said bottled water had been donated from multiple residents who were spared from the floods. Other donations came in from as far away as Texas. 'I saw so much volunteer efforts and food and water and people that cared so much. That's the West Virginia way,' Morrisey said. '… We thank everyone who is putting themselves in harm's [way] to save the lives of their neighbors. There's no substitute for that — people acting selflessly to help their fellow West Virginians.' Boil water advisories so far have been issued for residents served by public service districts in Williamson, McDowell, Kermit, Mingo and Crum. Those who rely on those systems for water should abstain from drinking anything coming out of their taps until further notice. Water service in general was still out completely for portions of both McDowell and Mingo counties, Morrisey said. Utility operators, he continued, were working to flush lines and restore service as soon as possible on Tuesday. In addition to the water outages, power remained out for more than 8,000 West Virginians on Tuesday, Morrisey said. Utility workers and others had restored power to nearly 56,000 residents on Tuesday. In some areas, responders were needing to wait until flood waters receded and debris was cleared out before repairing power lines. Flood waters can be breeding grounds for disease due to contaminants that could enter the body through open wounds, among other ways. There can also be dangers — loose metal, sharp objects and more — hidden in flood waters, which can be hazardous for people caught in them. Morrisey said 250 tetanus shots were sent this week to Williamson Memorial Hospital and to Wyoming County for anyone who may have been exposed in the overflowing waters. At least four school districts — in Mingo, McDowell, Raleigh and Wyoming counties — had closures on Tuesday for either power outages, road closures or damage from floods. In several of those counties, schools were being used as shelters or distribution centers for people displaced by the floods and in need of supplies. Social media postings from Mingo and McDowell on Sunday said both districts would be closed 'until further notice,' however no announcements regarding any closures were posted on the state Department of Education's website as of 4 p.m. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
