CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Emergency officials in the Eastern Panhandle are cautiously optimistic that five days worth of stormy weather may be tapering off.
Jefferson County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Public Information Officer Brandon Vallee said Friday his county had endured five different flooding events this week alone.
As many as 21 roads had to be closed because of high water and downed trees. As of Friday morning, only five remained closed, but Vallee expected that number to go up as the local waterways crest.
“The Opequon Creek is currently in flood stage, and the Potomac and the Shenandoah rivers will be in flood stage,” Valleee said. “Over on the Potomac, a couple of the docks are going to be flooded along with Harpers Ferry Historical Park, parts of that.”
Vallee said deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department have been going to low-lying, flood-prone areas near the river and warning residents they may need to evacuate.
On Thursday, officials in both Berkeley and Jefferson counties declared local states of emergency. This allows them to reach out for help,” Vallee said.
“Given that it’s a flooding incident, we might need swift water rescue teams, it allows the state to transfer those teams over to us more quickly
As of Friday, the Eastern Panhandle was receiving significantly less rain than had been forecast, but since the system is currently stalled, Vallee says folks should keep an eye on the forecast.