Torrential rain triggered devastating flash floods across West Virginia on Wednesday, prompting Governor Patrick Morrisey to declare a state of emergency for all 55 counties and mobilize hundreds of National Guard troops.
At least two people remained unaccounted for in Upshur County, where state police discovered an overturned vehicle believed connected to the missing individuals. The county received approximately 4.5 inches of rain in just 37 minutes, part of a broader deluge that dumped up to 7 inches in some areas. More than 100 people required rescue from floodwaters, and three shelters opened to house displaced residents.
The flooding caused Sand Run creek near Buckhannon to reach record levels, surpassing the mark set during a November 1985 flood that killed 47 people statewide. Lewis, Pleasants and Upshur counties sustained the most significant damage, with thousands left without power. No deaths were immediately confirmed.