Fairmont, W.Va. (WVDN) – Today, Governor Patrick Morrisey delivered updates on the state and local response to severe flash flooding in Ohio and Marion counties. Governor Morrisey declared a state of emergency in Ohio County and Marion counties and has mobilized state resources to assist.
Flash Flooding began late Saturday evening in Ohio County, with roughly 3-4 inches of rain falling in the area in a short period of time. Flash flooding then continued during the day yesterday in Marion County, with up to 3 inches of rain in Fairmont alone in a short period of time.
As of 12pm, there are six confirmed fatalities and at least two missing persons. State officials are working hand in hand with local emergency responders to do everything in our power to locate missing persons as quickly as possible.
Power outages continue to be a challenge in Ohio County, with 1,500 reported outages as of 12pm. Over 1,000 accounts have been restored in 24 hours. Linemen are continuing to work to restore power quickly, and the state has offered any assistance necessary to get folks back up and running.
FEMA has already been notified and we are working with them to ensure we are ready to receive any additional assistance from the federal government.
National Guard
- Governor Morrisey mobilized the National Guard to support local emergency operations.
- The Joint Operations Center is fully engaged, coordinating response efforts across agencies. Community Assistance Teams, including Liaison Officers, are deployed to work directly with local emergency management and assist affected residents.
- Engineering units with loaders and dump trucks are mobilized to clear debris, reopen access routes, and support critical infrastructure in Ohio County.
- Aviation assets remain on standby to conduct search and rescue missions for individuals who may be stranded or in immediate danger in Ohio County.
- Assessment and liaison teams have been sent into Marion County.
Division of Natural Resources
- The Division of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently utilizing drones, UTV’s, 4×4 vehicles, dive teams, and swift water teams.
- The DNR has assisted in over 40 successful swiftwater rescues.
- Officers remain on standby in Marion to assist as needed.
Division of Highways
- 30 routes are being affected in Ohio and Marion counties, including State and US routes.
- The Department of Transportation is conducting the following operations:
- Clearing debris to assist with the first responders and traveling public
- Restoring roadways and inspecting bridges.
- Working with local landfill to remove and transfer debris off roads to landfill
- Ensuring first responders have access where needed
- DoH continues to coordinate the deployment of transportation resources from other places in the state to assist local crews.
Department of Environmental Protection
- The Department of Environmental Protection is conducting inspections on facilities in both Marion and Ohio Counties and has received no word of any issues.
- DEP authorized landfills to stay open for extended hours and stands ready to authorize any additional debris staging areas.
- DEP has also waived tonnage limitation and disposal fees
- Initial preparations are underway to authorize temporary debris staging areas in coordination with Ohio County Emergency Services.
- Republic Services’ Short Creek Landfill is open and accepting debris; frac waste site reported no hazardous releases, with all tanks intact.
- Ohio County PSD is working to restore pump stations; damage to the sewage collection system is still being assessed.
- Tank inspectors are checking local gas stations and hazardous sites for storm-related impacts.
- DEP Division of Mining and Reclamation has 8 inspectors deployed conducting site assessments of mining-related facilities in Ohio, Marion, and Monongalia counties and surrounding areas.
- No significant circumstances of damages or structure failures identified at this time.
