Charleston, W.Va. (WVDN) – 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.
“Over the past few days, I’ve watched as West Virginians have come together with an indomitable spirit to support our brothers and sisters in need,” said Governor Patrick Morrisey. “Together, we will overcome our challenges and rebuild after these devastating floods.”
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 Sunday in Marion County, with up to 3 inches of rain in Fairmont alone in a short period of time.
As of 10:00 AM on Tuesday, there are seven confirmed fatalities and at least two missing persons. State officials continue to work with local emergency responders to locate missing individuals as quickly as possible.
Linemen are continuing to work to restore power quickly, and the state has offered any assistance necessary to get folks back up and running. In Ohio County, 303 people remain without power. Over 1,200 accounts have been restored in the past 24 hours.
FEMA representatives are on the ground working with state officials to ensure West Virginia is 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.
Ohio County Personnel:
2 Community Assistance Teams
1 Liaison Officer Team
1 Engineer Assessment Team
2 Loader Dump Team Crews
Ohio County Equipment:
15 dump trucks with operators
8 skid steers with grapple bucket
4 mini excavators
2 trailers
Marion County Personnel
2 Community Assistance Teams
1 Liaison Officer Team
1 Engineer Assessment Team– transitioning from Ohio County
There are currently 81 total West Virginia National Guard personnel employed in flood recovery operations, with more on the way.
Division of Natural Resources
The DNR has assisted in over 40 successful swiftwater rescues.
Deployed two ground/foot teams, one swift water rescue team, one swift water support unit.
Successfully removed 14 vehicles from the river. An overall number of 20 vehicles removed by DNR and Fire personnel. Every vehicle recovered was cleared to ensure no occupants were inside and cross-referenced with missing persons list.
Drone operators worked on marking submerged and hard-to-locate vehicles for target operations by the Swiftwater team today.
Ground Operations cleared multiple locations of debris, iInvestigated and re-examined previously inaccessible areas of interest.
Division of Highways
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
Ohio County Equipment on scene:
Total WVDOH Workers: 107+
40 Tandem axle dumps
11 Single Axle Dumps
6 Endloaders
10 Excavators
4 Gradalls
4 Skid steers
Roads closed for cleanup:
US 40
CO 25 Peters Run
CO 15 Wardens Run
CO 31 Battle Run
CO 1 Short Creek
CO 7 GC&P 7
CO 39 Middle Creek
CO 29 Dixons Run
CO 35 McGraws Run
CO 27 Point Run
CO 45 Atkinson Crossing
CO 8/1 Stewarts Road
Bridges Closed:
Shilling Bridge in Elm Grove
CO 29 Dixon Run Road Bridge
CO 31 Battle Run Road Bridge
CO 8/1 Stewarts Road Bridge
Marion County equipment on scene:
District 4 Disforce has 5 employees in Marion County with 1 Gradall, 1 Excavator, 1 rock truck, and 1 trailer
Harrison County sent 3 employees with 2 single axle dump trucks and 1 tandem dump truck
Taylor County sent 3 employees with 1 Gradall and 2 tandem dump trucks and brought more traffic control devices
Cenforces (statewide heavy maintenance crews) with an excavator
Lewisburg is sending a dozer
Marion County Road Closures
US 19 near Bellview, WV
218 near Idamay Sycamore Hollow Road
CR 15/7 Hill Crest Road
CR 23/1 Wisemans Run Road
CR 40/3
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.
Total EE Staff Deployed: 13
Total Sites Inspected: 47
9 Dams
10 Underground Storage Tank (UST)/Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) Facilities
14 Industrial/Municipal Facilities:
14 Other (roadways, debris, residential): 14
Ohio County
5 dam inspections – No structural concerns
5 UST/AST inspections – All tanks secure; no releases.
No hazardous releases identified.
Debris management: No staging areas requested at this time.
Marion/Monongalia County
4 dam inspections – No structural concerns.
No hazardous releases identified.
5 UST sites – One with water intrusion (now pumped and stable).
2 EE inspectors responded to 5 construction Stormwater spill reports in Monongalia County. No issues were observed
14 facility inspections – Minor impacts noted:
Mon County: SI Group Industrial pond overtopped on 6/15; now stable, being monitored.
Mon County: Granville lift station flooded; WasteWater Treatment Plant operational.
Debris management: No staging areas requested at this time.
Division of Mining and Reclamation (DMR)
As of 4 p.m. on June 16, DMR has had 11 inspectors assess 17 permitted sites across the flood-affected areas of northern W.Va. The inspectors reported no significant issues at any of the inspected mining facilities.
Department of Health
150 doses of Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (TDAP) sent to the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department for delivery to Ohio County. 125 doses are being supplied from neighboring counties.
Ordered an additional 270 doses of TDAP, which will be delivered on Tuesday, June 17.
Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department offering free TDAP vaccinations.
