West Virginia declares a state of emergency amid severe flooding and water rescues

The National Weather Service in Charleston reports that significant flash floods have occurred in central West Virginia as a result of the weekend’s and Monday’s heavy rain.

Due to the weekend’s and Monday’s heavy rain, the National Weather Service in Charleston says that severe flash floods have occurred in central West Virginia. (Photo: FOX 40)

Weather service: Some areas were particularly badly struck

According to local sources, the magnificent Appalachian highlands are being engulfed in murky water, enclosing streets, homes, and automobiles, now in a state of emergency. According to the weather service, Chesapeake, Cedar Grove, and Winifrede areas were particularly badly struck.

USA Today reported that officials declared a flash flood emergency for Kanawha County after it received 3 to 6 inches of rain alone on Monday.

An ongoing, life-threatening emergency is being caused by the severe weather, according to a Monday morning report from Kanawha County. Officials issued a warning in the afternoon, saying that more rain could cause additional problems on already saturated land.

Kanawha, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, and Roane counties now have a state of emergency, according to the office of West Virginia Governor Jim Justice. During mudslides, both lanes of U.S. The northbound right lane was blocked on Route 60 in Belle and at milepost 85.5 of the West Virginia Turnpike close to Chelyan, according to the governor’s office.

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The rain is causing considerable flooding throughout the counties, damaging houses, bridges, and highways

Water rescues

The governor’s office reported that the West Virginia Division of Highways has been working in the affected counties to remove culverts, clean up mudslides, and assess the damage caused by the severe rainfall. According to WOWK-TV, there had been 22 water rescues in Kanawha County and its environs as of Monday morning.

The weather service predicts that showers and thunderstorms will continue through Tuesday, with regions along and near the mountains being more susceptible to precipitation as the showers spread out Tuesday afternoon.

The state’s most populous county and the location of Charleston, the state capital, Kanawha County, experienced flooding, according to photographs posted on social media by WCHS-TV reporter Bob Aaron.

Midway through the week, dry and slightly cooler temperatures should resume.

What to do in case of a flash flood

According to the National Weather Service, flash floods can start happening minutes after a storm has started.

The public has been urged to exercise caution and keep an eye out for new problems in locations where creeks and streams have already overflowed their banks by Kanawha County officials who are on the scene.

The Charleston office of the weather service advises that you keep an eye on the weather, never drive through flooded areas, and have several means to get alerts.

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