WV Responders Can't Reach Stranded People or Fires

Editor's Note -- At least three people have been killed, and others are missing, reports indicate.

With first responders trying to reach those trapped in cars and homes, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared a State of Emergency in 44 counties Thursday afternoon, including all in southern West Virginia.

Just before 5 p.m., Greenbrier County officials said there was no end in sight after three days of rain.

“We have people in areas that need help where we cannot get to,” an emergency management official said.

National Weather Service termed the flooding in Greenbrier County as “historic.”

Roads in Greenbrier are closed and flooding is widespread from Sam Black to Quinwood and Rainelle, confirmed Paula Brown, deputy director of Greenbrier County Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

She said Rocky Gap trailer park in White Sulphur Springs was evacuated and the unincorporated community of Trout is badly flooded.

At 6 p.m. in White Sulphur Springs residents in the area of Crescent Avenue, Gibbs Street and Central Avenue areas were on their roofs as water flooded their second stories.

Crews were trying to evacuate portions of town, but fires caused by downed power lines hindered their efforts, according to the county’s emergency management officials.

“We have at least five different areas that are under water and (on) fire,” said one emergency management official.

The utility company was contacted to turn off the power, but crews could not reach the source, the official said.

First responders reported a mother and her child were stranded after their trailer was swept away and splintered in the Woodlawn area on W.Va. 92, about 2 miles north of the U.S. 60 intersection near White Sulphur Springs.

EMS officials at first requested a helicopter to assist in the rescue, but because of thunder and lightening, the request was denied. They then requested a raft from the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office.

County officials have requested two swift water crews be stationed in the county for emergencies, the EMS official said.

In some places on White Sulphur’s Main Street, there was as much as 10 feet of water, dispatchers said.

Greenbrier owner Jim Justice said Thursday afternoon the resort is experiencing severe flooding — enough to trap people in the resort, obliterate the golf course and send water flowing into the Casino Club.

While several media outlets reported that both Summit Lake and Camp Creek dams had breached, the West Virginia State Police confirmed that was not true.

Rainelle Mayor Andrea Pendleton said she was out in the rain directing traffic throughout the day. The creeks are up and water is also pouring off the mountain there, covering bridges.

Story continues below video

“The storm drains can’t handle it,” she said.

The Nicholas County town of Richwood was evacuated Thursday afternoon when the Cherry River left its banks, flooding most of the downtown area.

“We’re moving to higher ground right now,” said Mary Jane Williams, president of the town’s Chamber of Commerce in the early afternoon.

Officials have requested assistance from the West Virginia National Guard to provide ice, cots and boats for those being evacuated. Additionally, the county has requested search and rescue teams.

Employees at the New River Humane Society animal shelter in Fayette County were evacuated using a ladder truck around 3:30 p.m., after the small bridge leading to the shelter was completely submerged.

Several streets were closed in downtown Fayetteville as the town worked to keep debris clear from the town’s box drains, said Mayor Dennis Hanson.

Flooding in downtown Fayetteville reached its peak around 3 p.m. Hanson said water went into some homes and was close to entering many others, but no residents were evacuated.

The Fayette County Courthouse Annex was closed around noon when water began pouring into the building’s basement. Both magistrate and circuit courts were shut down.

The Subway and gas station at U.S. 19 and Court Street in Fayetteville were closed because of water infiltration.

Hanson said areas around Maple Avenue, Lively Street and Keller Avenue were a concern for the town.

“We have crews out this evening staying on top of the situation, trying to funnel water as best as we can,” he said. “Some areas in Fayetteville are prone to flooding, but we saw flooding in areas today where we don’t normally see it.”

The caused Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to declare a state of emergency in 44 counties, after some areas were rendered inaccessible because of damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure, according to Tomblin’s proclamation. Only counties in the Northern and Eastern panhandles were excluded from the declaration.

Nearly 42,000 are now without power in West Virginia due to flooding conditions and trees on power lines.

Appalachian Power reported 26,810 power outages as of 6:30 p.m.

Those customers include 2,712 in Fayette; 11,352 in Kanawha; 2,404 in Greenbrier, 681 in Raleigh, 551 in Wyoming and 2,040 in Nicholas.

Mon Power reported 5,685 customers in Greenbrier County without power at 9 p.m., 125 in Monroe and 2,110 in Nicholas.

———

©2016 The Register-Herald (Beckley, W.Va.)

Visit The Register-Herald (Beckley, W.Va.) at www.register-herald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.