Flooding led to rescue mission
Submitted photos National Guard members help out with the flood cleanup efforts in Harman Tuesday, following Sunday’s severe flooding and the resulting damage
Students from the YouthBuild of North Central West Virginia program lend a hand with cleanup activities in the Harman area Tuesday.
Submitted photos National Guard members help out with the flood cleanup efforts in Harman Tuesday, following Sunday’s severe flooding and the resulting damage
Students from the YouthBuild of North Central West Virginia program lend a hand with cleanup activities in the Harman area Tuesday.
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HARMAN -- Sunday morning's severe flooding affected not only Harman and other parts of Randolph County, but areas in Tucker County as well, where a recreational kayaking trip along the Cheat River suddenly turned into a survival mission.
A father and son went kayaking on the Cheat Saturday, witnesses said. It started getting dark so they stopped on an island, known to many as Seven Islands, to camp out. Soon after, the flash flood hit and they were stranded on the island with no way out since their kayaks were washed away.
"I called 911 when I arrived here in the morning (Sunday)," said Patrick McCann, owner of Blackwater Outdoor Adventures. "(The father) had some sort of GPS that allows you to text people, and he ended up texting Emergency Services. They were rescued by a helicopter. I'm so glad that they are alive. Nobody was injured, they came out in good spirits."
Fortunately, the island the two camped on was never completely covered by water so they did manage to remain dry. They noticed that every island surrounding them seemed submerged, so luckily they selected the island with the highest ground, McCann said.
On Tuesday in the Harman area, some major breakthroughs were made in terms of transportation following Sunday's flooding.
All major roads in and out of Harman are now open, though some are only one-lane, the Randolph County Office of Emergency Management reported Tuesday morning.
Many local individuals and organizations were in the Harman area volunteering time to help with the cleanup Tuesday, including students from the YouthBuild of North Central West Virginia program.
Also on hand were National Guard members, taking part in cleanup activities Tuesday.
Officials want the public to be aware that the flooding will not affect Harman's Independence Day celebration festivities, which are still scheduled for Thursday.
"Everything is still on schedule for the Fourth of July activities in Harman," Randolph County Commission President Mark Scott said Tuesday afternoon.
"The roads will be clear, we have plenty of parking, we have bathroom facilities," he said. "Everything should be ready for people to have a good time."
The Harman Fire Department will have activities all day long Thursday, ending with fireworks that evening.
Activities include a craft sale, chicken barbecue, hot dog stand, bake sale, car and tractor show, rides for the kids, antique car show and a parade through town.
There will also be a dedication for a Veterans Memorial at 11 a.m.