Community Bulletin
A run of power outages across central West Virginia in recent months has homeowners weighing backup options. Crites Electric, a Buckhannon Generac dealer of more than 45 years, installs automatic standby generators that restore power within seconds — no cords, no switches. Read more →
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Update: Family members say one individual, Billy Heater, is still unaccounted for as of Friday afternoon, and local officials have been notified. The Office of Emergnecy Management is coordinating the response of police, fire, National Guard, etc., so if you know of anyone still unaccounted for, it is essential you call 304-472-4983 as soon as possible so search and rescue teams can help!
Original: Officials said Friday morning that they had confirmed no cases of anyone still unaccounted for in the flooding that struck Buckhannon and Upshur County this week.
The City of Buckhannon, the Upshur County Commission and the Upshur County Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management said Friday that all leads concerning potential missing persons related to the recent flooding have been thoroughly tracked and investigated. At that time, no unaccounted-for individuals have been confirmed through official channels, the agencies said.
The update follows days in which emergency crews had been searching for residents reported missing as floodwaters receded across the county.
Heavy rain and flash flooding swamped downtown Buckhannon and communities across Upshur County earlier this week, submerging vehicles, inundating businesses and prompting a broad recovery effort. The West Virginia Army National Guard has been assisting with debris removal, and city and county officials have centralized relief supplies and volunteer coordination at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Gov. Patrick Morrisey traveled to Buckhannon this week for an update on the flood response.
Residents who have loved ones they are unable to reach, or who believe someone may be unaccounted for, are urged to contact the Upshur County Office of Emergency Management at 304-472-4983 for immediate assistance.
Community vigilance and timely reporting remain essential as recovery operations continue, the agencies said.
