About 500 National Guard Members Deployed to West Virginia After Flash Floods

Approximately 500 National Guard members have been deployed across West Virginia after torrential rain caused flash floods in parts of the state this week. Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Governor Patrick Morrisey said the state remains in a “phase of search and rescue” with teams working to find any individuals who could be saved. He expressed concern about possible loss of life but did not provide an exact number of people unaccounted for.

On Tuesday, Morrisey declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties and issued a “state of preparedness,” directing state agencies to be ready to respond. Initially, about 100 National Guard members were sent to the hardest-hit areas, but on Wednesday another 400 were mobilized to support flood response operations.

The governor’s office reported that a series of storm systems had moved across the state, producing severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, torrential rainfall, mudslides, and rapidly rising water. The most significant impacts were in Lewis, Pleasants, and Upshur counties, where flooding prompted emergency response.

During the briefing, Morrisey described the storms as “quite extraordinary,” noting that a significant amount of rain fell in a very short period. In Upshur County, about 4.5 inches of rain fell in just 37 minutes. “When things like that happen, there’s no place for the water to go,” he said.

As of Thursday morning, more than 6,000 residents were without power, according to Poweroutage.us. Morrisey said the main line of severe weather has moved through, but the ground remains saturated and rivers are high. The West Virginia Department of Transportation said crews are working to clear debris and reopen roads. The National Weather Service expects quiet weather through the end of the work week, but showers and thunderstorms may return over the weekend.