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ELKINS – Both Gov. Patrick Morrisey and the Upshur County Commission issued State of Emergency proclamations following Tuesday evening’s extreme storms.
Flash flooding spread across Upshur and the city of Buckhannon, causing significant destruction and leading to some residents having to be rescued due to the high water.
Morrisey declared a State of Emergency for all 55 counties as severe storms continue to move across the Mountain State, and the Upshur County Commission issued a State of Emergency proclamation for the county.
Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner released a statement Wednesday requesting for prayers for the hard-hit area.
“First and foremost, the City of Buckhannon, North-Central Upshur County, and everyone here... we need your prayers,” Skinner said. “Many homes and businesses are badly damaged, and hundreds of city streets and roadways in and around the city remain impassable meaning resources are cut off to many…
“Our emergency response teams are already operating at mass-capacity, and no sleep. Let's not make their jobs more difficult by driving through flooded areas. Additionally, vehicles create waves of water that can further damage homes and businesses making the clean up efforts more difficult.”
In his release Skinner said many people have been reaching out to offer help to Buckhannon and to Upshur County as a whole.
“We are receiving an overwhelming number of messages from folks far and wide asking how you can help,” Skinner said. “We appreciate this gesture more than you know. We're trying to respond to you as quickly as possible, but again, cell phone service and internet access is spotty at best here right now.”
Skinner, a native of Buckhannon, said, “As the mayor of the City of Buckhannon, my hometown, the place I love so much – I am devastated. This is heartbreaking on so many levels. The damage in many parts of our city is overwhelming. I am heartbroken for every single person who is suffering because of this natural disaster.
“Please know that every member of our city administration, staff, all of our departments, public safety personnel is and will be doing everything we possibly can to help in this situation. The City of Buckhannon is a family, and together, we will get through this. We are a strong community, something we've proven over and over, and we will do so again.”
On Wednesday, the Barbour County Office of Emergency Management released a statement concerning flooding in Barbour County, which was also hit hard this past weekend by flooding.
The statement, released at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, read, “The Tygart River is set to crest at 22.20 feet as of 10 a.m. this morning and appears to be receding steadily. All bridges are open to cross the Tygart River at this time.
“We are still seeing a rise in the Buckhannon River in Upshur County, which feeds into the Tygart. This means that we will continue to gain significant water into our river for the next few hours, but not concerning at this time.”
Several areas in Randolph County saw flooding from the storm that forced road closures. The Randolph County Office of Emergency Management offered the following statement on social media Wednesday.
“Attention Randolph County residents, due to recent storms and heavy rainfall, Randolph County has experienced significant impacts,” the statement reads. “For power outages, contact your utility provider. There have been several reports of flooding in various areas of the county. While water levels seem to be receding in most areas, some roads and low-lying areas remain impacted and/or impassable by elevated water.
“We urge everyone to continue to exercise extreme caution. Please do not wade or attempt to drive through floodwaters… If you have sustained damages due to the recent events, please contact Randolph County 911 Center cold line at 304-636-2000 to report them. For all emergencies requiring immediate assistance please dial 911. Your safety is our top priority.”
Morrisey also urged West Virginians to avoid driving through flooded roadways, remain alert for rapidly changing weather conditions, follow the guidance of local emergency officials, and continue to monitor forecasts and heed any watches, warnings or evacuation instructions issued for their area.
The State of Emergency remains in effect for 30 days unless terminated by a subsequent proclamation.
The Upshur County Commission noted, “The Commission remains in close coordination with local, county, and state emergency response partners as recovery efforts continue. We ask that you help us share this information with the public, particularly the request for residents to avoid unnecessary travel so emergency personnel and road crews can safely continue their work. We appreciate your partnership in providing timely and accurate information to the citizens of Upshur County during this challenging time.”