National Guard deployed as flash floods wreak havoc in West Virginia
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has declared a state of emergency and deployed the National Guard following severe flash flooding. Rescue operations are ongoing as officials work to account for missing residents and provide shelter to those displaced.
Why it matters
The event highlights the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and the critical role of state emergency response infrastructure.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Torrential rains caused flash floods in West Virginia that inundated homes and businesses, washed out bridges and led to numerous water rescues. The state’s governor said that some residents were unaccounted for as search operations continued Wednesday.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey sent hundreds of National Guard members to the hardest-hit areas in the northern part of the state and declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties Tuesday night. The state Division of Natural Resources has been involved in 85 rescues, he said, and 19 National Guard and state police helicopters were either out on rescue missions or standing by if needed.
Three shelters were opened Wednesday that housed a total of more than 100 residents, the governor said at a news conference.
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