West Virginia National Guard Deploys as Flash Floods Inundate State
Catastrophic flash flooding swept across north-central West Virginia on July 21-22, prompting Governor Patrick Morrisey to declare a State of Emergency for all 55 counties and deploy 300 National Guard members as torrential rains inundated homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure, according to AP News.
Record-Breaking Rainfall
Up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain fell in some areas, with an observer 2.6 miles south of Buckhannon reporting that 4 inches fell in just 75 minutes, WV MetroNews reported. The deluge caused Sand Run creek near Buckhannon to crest at a staggering 10.63 feet, shattering the previous record of 8.34 feet set during the devastating 1985 Election Day floods that claimed 47 lives statewide.
“I’ve never seen anything like this, and I’ve lived here for 37 years,” Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner told MetroNews. “The river is still rising, we’re not done yet.”
Emergency Response and Rescues
Governor Morrisey initially deployed 100 National Guard members Tuesday night, with an additional 200 arriving Wednesday morning. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources conducted at least 85 rescues, and 19 National Guard and state police helicopters were deployed for rescue missions, the governor’s office confirmed.
In a statement, Morrisey said: “State and local agencies will remain on the ground for as long as it takes to help affected communities.”
First responders performed dramatic attic rescues, with crews reporting having to cut people out of their attics as floodwaters rose. Emergency radio traffic from Upshur County painted a harrowing picture of a first response network pushed beyond its limits, with one responder relaying that “the bridge is gone, it’s washed out” and that houses had “floated into each other.”
Remarkably, no deaths or missing persons were reported as of Wednesday, July 22.
Widespread Infrastructure Damage
The flooding severely impacted transportation and utilities. Portions of Interstate 79, U.S. Route 33, and U.S. Route 48 were closed, with southbound I-79 traffic rerouted onto U.S. Route 50. A sinkhole swallowed a vehicle at a bar in Fayetteville. Mon Power reported more than 22,000 customers without power in Central West Virginia, and Upshur County’s 911 service went down, forcing residents to call an alternate number.
Lewis County Commissioner Agnes Quinn Queen described the situation bluntly: “The devastation across our county is extensive.”
Communities Cut Off
Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner noted the unique challenge facing rescue efforts: “Our city is spliced up in such a way by the flood waters that there’s simply not a centralized place for everyone to access at this time.”
Bob Pfister, a hotel guest in Weston, posted on Facebook that while the power remained on at his hotel, the first floor was inundated with coffee-brown water. “Right now this option is much better than a shelter and a life boat,” he wrote. “If the power goes out that may change a whole lot!”
Broader Storm System
The heavy rains were part of a wide-ranging storm system stretching from Cincinnati across New Jersey to the New York City suburbs, which also produced tornadoes. Damage from a possible tornado was reported in the St. Marys and Belmont areas of West Virginia, according to Fox Weather.
The ground was already saturated after storms dumped more than 2 inches of rain across the state on Saturday, July 18, setting the stage for the catastrophic flooding.
Historical Context
Tuesday’s storms occurred exactly a decade after 23 people died when heavy rains fell for hours over the same areas in June 2016. The Sand Run record crest of 10.63 feet surpassed the mark set during the November 1985 flood event, which resulted in 47 deaths statewide and remains one of West Virginia’s worst natural disasters.
West Virginia’s mountainous terrain and narrow river valleys make it particularly susceptible to flash flooding, as rapid runoff from steep slopes amplifies the destructive power of heavy rainfall.
What’s Next
The State of Emergency remains in effect for 30 days unless terminated by a subsequent proclamation, enabling potential federal assistance from FEMA. Although the rain had cleared by Wednesday, flood warnings remained posted for rivers, creeks, and low-lying areas, with flood watches extending across parts of eastern Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Governor Morrisey urged residents to continue exercising caution: “I urge every West Virginian to exercise an abundance of caution, stay off flooded roadways, monitor local forecasts, and follow the direction of emergency officials,” he said in his official statement.
As recovery efforts begin, the full extent of property damage and economic impact remains unknown, but with washed-out bridges, submerged businesses, and destroyed homes across multiple counties, recovery costs are expected to run into the millions.