CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued a State of Emergency declaration for all 55 West Virginia counties Tuesday after the latest batch of storms swept through the state.
Heavy rainfall ripped through West Virginia from Sunday through Tuesday, causing widespread flooding and damages to communities. A woman died in Fayette County floodwaters. This declaration remains in effect for 30 days unless action is taken beforehand. A State of Emergency declaration gives agencies at the state and local level to better coordinate and deploy resources and personnel in the recovery process.
This is the latest in what has become a summer of rain in the Mountain State. Communities in central West Virginia are still feeling the effects of the July 21 flooding, while Boone and Logan counties got hit hard in late June by flash floods.
“West Virginians have been hit by another round of severe weather at a time when many communities are still recovering from last month’s storms,” Morrisey said. “This declaration gives our emergency responders, state agencies, and local officials the flexibility they need to move quickly, get resources where they are needed, and help communities recover from the damage.”
The existing State of Emergency for the July 21 flooding in 12 counties remains in effect; it is separate from this declaration. Morrisey extended the declaration for the July 21 recovery efforts in Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Pendleton, Pleasants, Randolph, Ritchie, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, and Wetzel counties through September 19.
“We have crews and emergency responders working across the state, and we are going to make sure they have what they need to do their jobs,” Morrisey said. “We will continue working with our local partners to assess the damage and help West Virginians recover.”