Mountains of Flood Debris
Upshur officials still dealing with wreckage
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BUCKHANNON - Debris pickup continues in flood-ravaged Upshur County, with continuing work provided by the West Virginia Army National Guard and the West Virginia Department of Highways.
An empty lot in Buckhannon, located just off Route 48 close to the state Division of Highways building, is being used as a temporary storage place for flood debris from throughout the county.
Two heavy equipment excavators worked atop massive piles of debris in the lot on Saturday, moving around scoopfuls of ruined furniture, carpet, clothing, lumber and other discarded items.
A huge collection of destroyed tires lay at the foot of one of the debris piles, next to a small mountain of bent and mangled washers, dryers, air conditioners and other household appliances.
A small mountain of bent and mangled washers, dryers, air conditioners and other household appliances is being stored in a lot in Buckhannon.
A pair of National Guard members were posted at the entrance to the lot Saturday, keeping order and making sure unauthorized people didn’t enter the area.
"The West Virginia Army National Guard continues working hard to complete debris pickup throughout our community," a weekend release from the City of Buckhannon and Upshur County stated. "If your debris has not yet been collected -- or if your location was accidentally missed -- please let us know so arrangements can be made."
To request debris pickup assistance, residents are asked to call 304‑454‑5053, or to go to https://forms.gle/cPQu69p5169nCupc6.
"The National Guard has worked tirelessly to help our communities recover, and the WV Department of Highways assigned additional crews specifically for debris removal," the release stated. "Their hard work, dedication, and long hours have made an incredible difference in our recovery efforts. We are truly grateful for everything they have done for Upshur and Lewis counties.
"We also extend our sincere appreciation to the City of Buckhannon, which has assigned all available departments to assist the National Guard with city‑wide flood‑related debris removal and with transporting debris to the landfill in Bridgeport. Their teamwork and commitment have been essential to keeping operations moving efficiently and safely," the release continued.
An empty lot in Buckhannon, located just off Route 48 close to the state Division of Highways building, is being used as a temporary storage place for flood debris from throughout the county.
American Red Cross casework for residents whose homes sustained major damage or were destroyed will continue today from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the West Virginia Wesleyan College Library.
Residents should contact the American Red Cross as soon as possible to ensure timely processing and support, officials said.
In Upshur County, around 5 inches of rain fell by 7:26 p.m. July 21, leading to massive flooding. Two days later, it was confirmed that two people lost their lives in the Upshur flooding.
In Upshur and Lewis counties alone, 33 homes were destroyed, with 91 other homes experiencing major damage, 235 with minor damage, and 182 otherwise impacted, officials said.