Upshur County’s flood donation center has released an updated list of urgently needed items, from mailboxes and shop vacs to large diapers, while many other supplies remain at maximum capacity. The site is reducing its hours to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Wednesday.
Upshur County enters its second week of flood recovery with debris pickup continuing until work is complete. Supplies, meals, health care, counseling and volunteer help remain available, and residents are urged to report property damage.
Two rounds of storms will cross Upshur County tonight and Tuesday, with damaging winds the main threat. Localized flash flooding remains possible due to the saturated ground, but rainfall amounts should stay well below last week’s catastrophic totals.
The West Virginia Army National Guard is not halting debris collection in Upshur County on Tuesday as previously announced. Free flood debris pickup will continue until the work is done, but residents are asked to get damaged items to the curb as soon as possible.
Officials seek expedited federal aid after storms destroyed 33 homes and damaged hundreds in Upshur and Lewis counties. Residents are asked to place flood debris at the curb for free pickup and report damage to help secure assistance.
Residents are urged to place flood-damaged debris at the curb immediately so West Virginia Army National Guard units can continue countywide pickup and removal.
West Virginia State Police identified Judy A. Young, 59, and James J. Harper, 61, as the victims found Thursday in a vehicle swept away by rapidly rising floodwaters.
At a Buckhannon news conference, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said search and rescue remained the priority after this week’s catastrophic flooding, pledging the state would “not spare any time or cost.” Local leaders and the National Guard detailed a full-scale response.
A flash flood emergency was issued for Buckhannon and central Upshur County after 3 to 5 inches of rain triggered rescues, road closures and flooded structures. Residents were urged to avoid travel, move to higher ground and never drive through floodwater.
Severe storms could hit Upshur County Tuesday afternoon into the night, bringing damaging winds, heavy rain, hail and possible tornadoes. Residents should secure loose items, prepare for localized flooding and avoid flooded roads.
