CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Intense rain and wind caused widespread damages from Cabell County all along the I-64 Corridor Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service reported winds in excess of 90 miles an hour at the Huntington airport and widespread wind damages from Huntington all the way into downtown Charleston.
Appalachai0n Power reported over 95,000 customers without power after the fast moving storm passed through.
“We heard a report of 102 miles an hour just a little while ago in Huntington. With those winds right now and later this afternoon, we’re expecting outages to be climbing,” said Karen Wissing of Appalachian Power.
“We have requested as of now a thousand outside resources, so people are travelling here not to help restore power in our hardest hit areas as soon as it’s safe to do so,” Wissing added.
There are widespread damages from the storm. The wall of a structure at the Huntington Mall was blown down and the roof torn off another building. In South Charleston a portion of the roof of the Gestamp plant was peeled back. There were also damages in downtown Charleston to several buildings. Throughout the region there are thousand of trees down blocking roadways.
Officials stress to steer clear of any downed power lines.