HICO, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Many parts of West Virginia suffered widespread damage from severe storms Tuesday, but one Fayette County community was hit especially hard.
The small town of Hico located off of U.S. Route 19 in Fayette County was devastated by what was a likely tornado on Tuesday evening.
The storm started as a severe thunderstorm in eastern Kanawha County and was eventually upgraded to a tornado-warned storm once it rolled through Ansted.
The storm remained strong enough and was at risk of producing a tornado even as it made its way into Greenbrier, Nicholas, and Pocahontas counties.
This specific storm in the Hico area was likely a tornado, but the National Weather Service will have to send out a team to investigate and confirm.
If confirmed, this will be the first time a tornado has touched down in this area of Fayette County, according to available data.
Multiple homes and buildings suffered significant damage with some homes being completely destroyed. The damage also resulted in the closure of U.S. Route 60.
This is not something Hico is used to–maybe some heavy snow and occasional strong thunderstorms, but not tornadoes. To say the community is in shock and devastated is an understatement.
Although the Hico community is hurting, the community is coming together and will rise above the tragedy as it always has.
This is a developing story and LOOTPRESS will continue to update you on any developments.
If you were affected by today’s events in the Hico area and would like to tell us your story, please email austinsimms@lootpress.com with your information.
