VAN, W.Va. — A narrow band of heavy rain sent water from streams and creeks into homes in parts of Boone and Logan counties early Tuesday morning.
“The water came up pretty quick,” Van Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gary Howell told MetroNews.
Several inches of rain caused Pond Fork to go out of its banks in Van, Bob White and Wharton.
Howell said water made it into the living areas of several residences.
Boone County’s two swift water rescue teams were deployed.
“Between them and the Boone County Ambulance Authority and our members, I think it was around anywhere from 10 to 14 people they got safely out of their houses and brought them down here to the firehouse,” Howell told MetroNews.
The residents headed home by 9 a.m. after they water had gone down.
“They’re starting to clean-up,” Howell said.
Howell said swift water rescue teams from the Charleston and South Charleston fire departments also helped out.
It was narrow but strong band of rain set up in an area stretching through parts of Mingo, Logan, Boone and Raleigh counties.
“It was widespread two, three, four inches and potentially up to five or more in localized areas down there,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Tony Edwards said. “We had some pretty serious flooding.”
Edwards said there was an area of low pressure that enhanced the rain.
“So it really just kept that rain going in some areas,” he said. “A band just happened to set up.”
Edwards said they knew the conditions were right for a heavy band of rain heading into Monday evening but it was tough to predict where it could occur.
Chauncey resident Shana Nelson said there was also flooding in her Logan County community.
“The rain progressively got worse and worse and worse,” Nelson told MetroNews. “It definitely got under people’s homes and into people’s garages for sure.”
Daylight will reveal the scope of the damage.