HARMAN, W.Va. — Several communities in West Virginia’s eastern mountain counties were hit with flash flooding Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
Scott Shomo, captain of the Harman Fire Department in Randolph County, told MetroNews his community and others saw lots of rain in a short period of time.
Shomo said at least four inches of rain fell in the span of a couple of hours in Harman, parts of Dryfork, Job, and Seneca Rocks.
“We got hit with an extremely large amount of rain with a short period of time early this morning,” Shomo said on Sunday.
“We’ve had 13 fire departments here today (Sunday) for water rescue this morning. Now we have scaled back with five to deal with clean up and making sure all of the public is okay.”
Shomo said several roads are shut down in Randolph County including US Route 33 and State Route 32 along with Whitmer Road.
Emergency officials are meeting Sunday to determine the exact amount of rain that fell in spots but Shomo called it “pure flash flooding,” mainly caused by Horse Camp Creek.
“We’ve had lots of houses off foundations and a lot of roads washed out,” Shomo said.
Shomo said one firehouse in Harman has been flooded and the Harman School has taken water but could not speak to the severity.
West Virginia 511 said flooded and washed out roads have been reported in Randolph, Pendelton, Tucker, Grant, Preston and Mineral counties.
A report out of Grant County said residents in 20 homes were evacuated.
Shomo said the Division of Highways is in the area to try and get roads passable.
He added there was one reported injury during this time but could not say if it was related to the flooding.
Shomo said everyone in Harman is safe and accounted for.
We continue to receive reports of flooded and washed out roads, particularly in Randolph, Pendleton, Tucker, Grant, Preston, and Mineral Counties. Use caution if you must travel. Call 511 or visit https://t.co/PfZZG6W1Vk for closures. pic.twitter.com/LLo0Ma6OkN
— West Virginia 511 (@WV511) June 30, 2019