WHEELING, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A sudden downpour Saturday night led to deadly flash flooding in northern West Virginia, leaving four people dead — including a 3-year-old child — and several more unaccounted for as of Sunday, according to Governor Patrick Morrisey.
In a Sunday press conference, Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed the fatalities and said four others remain missing.
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The flooding, triggered by 2.5 to 4 inches of rain that fell within just 30 minutes, severely impacted Wheeling and surrounding areas in Ohio County, submerging roads and vehicles in towns like Triadelphia and Valley Grove.
The governor noted that the rainfall overwhelmed local waterways and infrastructure, causing significant damage to roads, bridges, natural gas lines, and other utilities.
He said some residents had to climb trees to escape rising waters, and at least one mobile home caught fire. Emergency crews conducted 19 swift water rescues during the night.
Roughly 2,500 residents in the area were without power as of Sunday afternoon. Officials said restoration efforts were delayed due to natural gas leaks that first had to be addressed to ensure safety.
Governor Morrisey has declared a state of emergency for Ohio County and said he is working closely with FEMA.
State Police, the Department of Natural Resources, and other agencies are on the ground, and the West Virginia National Guard has been directed to provide support wherever needed.
More rain and flooding remain a possibility in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service.
