CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim Seward visited Ohio County on Tuesday, surveying flood recovery efforts firsthand while also recognizing the hard work of the approx. 110 service members on ground around the area.
Despite the extreme heat and humidity that hit the region this week our teams have removed close to four thousand tons of flood debris in Ohio County since Monday, bringing the total to nearly 10,000 tons removed.
The WVNG continues to work alongside local, state and volunteer partners in systematically approaching the flood recovery operations in severely damaged communities of Marion and Ohio Counties.
Director of Joint Operations Col. Anthony Justice said the volunteers and community support is at an all-time high.
“I have been doing this for 25 years and I have never seen this level of support for a small community,” said Justice, whose team has been running round-the-clock since the emergency began.
Director of the Wheeling–Ohio County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Lou Vargo and his entire team have also been invaluable partners, said Justice, praising the operational capabilities that have significantly increased the speed and ease of recovery.
Through efficient planning and collaboration with local and state partners, Ohio County has witnessed a significant reduction in residual flood debris and can see a pathway forward to successfully returning the community back to the residents of Ohio County. The West Virginia National Guard and joint partners are fully vested in Governor Patrick Morrisey’s recovery efforts and serving the residents of West Virginia.
Soldiers of the 115th Engineer Vertical Construction Company, 119th Engineer Company (Sapper), 601st Engineer Support Company, 821st Engineer Construction Company, 1092nd Engineer Battalion, 150th Cavalry Regiment, and Airmen with the 167th and 130th Airlift Wings continue to partner with emergency managers, public works, community members, local businesses and volunteers to support debris removal and community assessments.
Following severe flash flooding in West Virginia’s Ohio and Marion counties that began late in the day on June 14, 2025, Soldiers and Airmen with the WVNG have been mobilized at the direction of Governor Patrick Morrisey, resulting in troops and equipment on ground since June 16.
