WHEELING, W.Va. – Roads are closed and homes have been destroyed in West Virginia after torrential rain led to deadly flash flooding in Wheeling and surrounding communities this weekend. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey provided a somber update on Facebook Sunday morning when he announced deaths due to the flooding event that took place. “Very sad to share that last night’s flash flooding in Wheeling has resulted in multiple fatalities, with some folks still missing,” Morrisey said. “I have declared a state of emergency for Ohio County.” Lou Vargo, director of the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency, told FOX Weather that at least three people were killed in the flash flooding.
Numerous Flash Flood Warnings and a rare Flash Flood Emergency were issued by the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh late Saturday night and early Sunday morning after 2-4 inches of rain fell in a short period of time, overwhelming rivers and streams and sending water rushing into communities. The Wheeling Fire Department shared photos and videos of the flooding and warned residents to stay vigilant near waterways. “Flash flooding occurred in the City of Wheeling and in Ohio County last night,” the Wheeling-OhioCounty EMA said in a Facebook post. “There is extensive damage to roads and bridges. Many roads are closed. People have lost their homes from this flooding.”
Officials said heavy equipment is being brought in to start the recovery process, and drones will be used to assess the destruction from above. “Please avoid these areas, especially on Rt. 40 in Triadelphia and Valley Grove,” the EMA said. “It’s a disaster and it’s dangerous.”
A slow-moving cold front will also drift to the south, focusing the heaviest rainfall south of the Interstate 64 corridor from West Virginia to Virginia, as well as along the Virginia-North Carolina border, where 1-3 inches of rain is possible with locally higher amounts. The greatest risk of flash flooding will be found across West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, with portions of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina placed in a Level 3 out of 4 flood threat by NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center.
