Severe weather this week brought massive rainfall, high winds, and possible tornadoes to West Virginia. The resulting flooding has devastated parts of north-central West Virginia, particularly the corridor between Buckhannon and Weston.
The National Weather Service in Charleston reported that three to five inches of rain fell Tuesday in just a few hours. One location just south of Buckhannon received seven inches. The torrential rain turned creeks and streams into raging rivers that flooded homes and businesses, triggered mudslides, and blocked roads.
Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner told MetroNews, “I’ve never seen anything like this, and I’ve lived here for 37 years.” Sadly, that sentiment is likely to be echoed many times in the days ahead.
The full extent of the damage is still unknown because many of the hardest-hit rural areas have yet to be fully assessed. As of Wednesday, emergency crews were still carrying out water rescues. However, the images already emerging, along with reports from residents and public officials, make it clear this is another historic flood.
Governor Patrick Morrisey responded quickly by declaring a state of emergency and activating the National Guard. “State and local emergency officials are working to assist those affected, and this declaration ensures we can quickly deploy resources wherever help is needed,” Morrisey said.
Once again, thank goodness for the Guard. Those citizen-soldiers are often among the first to respond when natural disasters strike, bringing equipment, manpower and experience to communities in desperate need.
Local emergency officials are mobilized, but they cannot do it alone. Experience tells us that West Virginians will once again answer the call. Volunteers from churches, civic organizations, neighborhoods, and families will roll up their sleeves, grab shovels and mops, and help their communities begin the difficult task of recovery.
But the road ahead will be long.
Many homes have been destroyed or left uninhabitable. Federal disaster assistance, when it comes, often takes time to reach those who need it most. In the meantime, families who lost everything must find temporary shelter and begin the painful process of rebuilding. We will undoubtedly see heartbreaking scenes of flood-soaked furniture, family keepsakes, and other treasured possessions piled along roadsides, waiting to be hauled away.
These storms are another reminder of the tragic irony of living in West Virginia. Our mountains, rivers, and streams define the beauty that inspired the nickname “Almost Heaven.” Yet those same rivers and creeks can, in a matter of hours, transform our beloved Mountain State into a landscape of heartbreak and destruction.