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WV State Of Emergency Continues

June 26th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

WV Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has received approval of his request for a Federal Disaster Declaration, and teams from the Federal Emergency Management Area have been dispatched to assist local authorities in the response. The declaration will also provide emergency medical support, housing and other individual needs.

The death toll from last week's flooding in West Virginia has now surpassed two dozen, according to the State Department of Homeland Security. 44 of the 55 counties remain under a state of emergency, with our local counties being spared from the worst of the effects. The National Guard has been deployed to help local officials with relief.

They say the situation in West Virginia is that of a “Thousand Year Flood.” The Elk River at Queen Shoals crested at 14 feet over flood stage, while the Kanawha, Greenbrier and New Rivers all crested very close to record levels. As the water continues to recede, thick mud is caking many areas and it will take quite awhile to clean up, let alone recover.

Many folks have a desire to look at the West Virginia Flood situation with their own eyes. Officials are discouraging that. While water has receded in many areas and roads are opening, many roadways remain unstable. They are asking that flood damaged roads only be traveled by emergency personnel and those that live in the affected communities.

Locally we've had some flash flooding like last year in Bowling Green and Cresaptown. Our most recent extended event was 20 years ago when Wills Creek exceeded its banks to cause major damage in the Motor City area especially. Before that, the region took a heavy hit in 1985, but the flooding in West Virginia is said to be much worse.

 

 

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