Two people have died as a result of Tuesday’s catastrophic flash flooding, Upshur County Sheriff Mike Coffman said Thursday afternoon. The bodies were found on Stonecoal Road.
The news came hours after Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that the West Virginia State Police had found an overturned vehicle in Upshur County believed to be connected to two people reported missing after this week’s flooding, but dangerous conditions and debris kept responders from reaching it.
Morrisey described the news as a difficult development in a search-and-recovery effort that has stretched across the region for two days.
“During the search and recovery operations, members of the West Virginia State Police located an overturned vehicle in Upshur County that’s believed to be connected to two individuals who are reported missing,” Morrisey said.
Responders initially could not safely reach the vehicle, the governor said, and crews worked with local agencies and West Virginia National Guard equipment to get to the site.
“Once responders are able to safely complete the operation, and there’s been formal identification as well as notification of next of kin, we will release additional information,” Morrisey said. “We have to do this the right way.”
“Our thoughts are with the families who are going through a very, very difficult time,” he added.
The discovery follows the flash flooding that overwhelmed Buckhannon and surrounding communities Tuesday evening, when a fast-moving storm dropped a historic amount of rain in a matter of minutes.
More than seven inches of rain fell in the Buckhannon area, Mayor Robbie Skinner said, with 4.5 inches coming down in just 37 minutes.
“When things like that happen, there’s no place for the water to go,” Morrisey said at a press conference Wednesday. “That’s one of the reasons why you see here in Upshur County that there’s still a fair amount of water covering parts of the city.”
Before the worst of the storms arrived, Morrisey declared a state of preparedness for all 55 counties, then followed with a state of emergency as conditions worsened.
Crews shifted quickly into search and rescue, which the governor called the top priority throughout the first day.
“Our priorities remain straightforward,” Morrisey said Wednesday. “We’re going to try to protect lives. We’re going to find anyone who needs help. We’re going to restore critical infrastructure and power, and begin helping communities recover.”
Between the state Division of Natural Resources, the county, the city and local law enforcement, more than 100 people had been rescued as of Wednesday, Morrisey said. Crews found a 77-year-old resident alive, and others were carried out of a flooded Walmart by boat.
The National Guard moved more than 500 troops into the region, with more than 300 in Upshur County and roughly 200 in Lewis County, including more than 100 engineers. The state Division of Highways dispatched 3,100 employees and more than 300 pieces of heavy equipment statewide.
Shelters have been opened for displaced residents, including at the Buckhannon Nazarene Church and Lewis County High School.
