BUCKHANNON — Residents were advised to stay off the roads and move to higher ground Tuesday evening as life-threatening flash flooding spread across Buckhannon and central Upshur County, where multiple swift-water rescues and significant destruction were reported.
Between 3 and 5 inches of rain had fallen by 7:26 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. The flash flood emergency remained in effect until 10:30 p.m.
“Flash flood emergency for central Upshur County including the areas in and around Buckhannon. This is a particularly dangerous situation. Seek higher ground now!” the weather service said. “This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.”
Chaotic radio traffic showed the magnitude of the event. People hanging from trees. Bridges destroyed. Roads washed out. Structures floating down creeks. Entire families in the water. Cars abandoned. Houses colliding into one another.
At one point, swift water rescue crews were going from submerged house to submerged house, cutting holes in the roof to extract trapped residents. Others worked to evacuate dozens of people from the Wingate hotel off WBUC Road by boat.
As night fell, first responders were trying to obtain air assets with thermal cameras to help locate people stranded by the flood waters, which continued to rise in some parts of the county. The sound of sirens pierced the humid air late into the night.
The Buckhannon River near Sand Run crested at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday at 10.63 feet, breaking the record of 8.34 feet set on November 5, 1985, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The gauge in Buckhannon was at 22.93 feet and still rising as of 11 p.m., into minor flooding levels but below the 1985 record of more than 30 feet.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands were without power throughout West Virginia in the wake of the storms. Restoration estimates wouldn’t be available until Wednesday evening, according to Mon Power.
St. Joseph’s Hospital announced that clinic and outpatient appointments scheduled for Wednesday morning were canceled.
“Due to the flooding in Buckhannon and surrounding areas this evening, all morning clinic and outpatient appointments scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, at St. Joseph’s Hospital have been canceled,” the hospital said. “We plan to resume normal operations beginning at 1 p.m. Our staff is currently working to call and check in with any patients this will affect.”
Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston also canceled outpatient appointments on Wednesday.
“The safety of our patients remains our highest priority,” the hospital said in a statement. “All patients are safe, and physicians, nurses and staff remain on site providing uninterrupted patient care.”
The Upshur County Courthouse, Annex and Administrative Annex will also be closed Wednesday. The Upshur County Senior Center said it would be open as a shelter only. Several Main Street businesses, including Moon Flower and Stone Tower Brews, announced that they would be closed Wednesday as well.
Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a State of Emergency for all 55 counties late Tuesday night, noting that the worst impacts were in Lewis, Pleasants and Upshur counties.
“Many West Virginians are helping communities deal with flooding, property damage, and dangerous conditions tonight,” Morrisey said. “State and local emergency officials are working to assist those affected, and this declaration ensures we can quickly deploy resources wherever help is needed.”
The Upshur County Commission met in special session shortly before midnight and declared a local State of Emergency as well.
“Upshur County has experienced widespread flooding resulting from significant rainfall, causing damage to public infrastructure, private property, roadways, bridges, culverts, utilities and other essential facilities,” the county said in the proclamation. “These conditions pose an immediate and continuing threat to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Upshur County and have disrupted normal governmental operations and emergency services. “
Flash flooding was reported throughout Upshur County after a powerful storm moved through around 6 p.m. The City of Buckhannon urged residents to remain where they were and avoid all travel unless they are evacuating a flooded area. Anyone in a low-lying or flood-prone location was advised to move immediately to higher ground.
U.S. Route 33 was flooded at multiple spots between Weston and Buckhannon, including at the base of Buckhannon Mountain, near the Huddle House and at the Brushy Fork intersection. Videos and photos shared on social media showed a portable toilet floating through Jawbone Park in the wake of a Lowe’s truck and a Jeep being swept into a creek near Lincoln Street. Roads, bridges, homes and businesses were destroyed.
Surrounding counties attempted to send water rescue units to assist, but finding routes into the county was challenging, with dispatchers attempting to track which roads were passable. Crews from as far as Marion County were on scene, along with various state agencies, including the Division of Natural Resources and Department of Highways.
Weston was also hit extremely hard by the storms, with significant flooding on Route 33 near Walmart and high water throughout much of the downtown area. There, crews from Wheeling, Preston County and other parts of the state responded to calls for help.
With more rain possible overnight, the weather service warned that most flood deaths occur in vehicles and that high water is especially difficult to recognize after dark.
A flood watch remained in effect until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Additional thunderstorms could produce 2 to 3 inches of rain in as little as an hour, the NWS warned.
