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WESTON, West Virginia — Several communities successful West Virginia are near reeling aft catastrophic flooding slammed the country connected Tuesday night.
First responders said they person received hundreds of calls for assistance successful the aftermath of a Flash Flood Emergency that impacted Lewis, Randolph and Upshur counties.
The National Weather Service designated the informing arsenic a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) — a uncommon designation reserved for the astir utmost and life-threatening flash flood events. The Flash Flood Emergency was successful effect until 10:30 p.m. ET.
Catastrophic flooding tin beryllium seen successful Weston, West Virginia, connected July 22, 2026.
(Andrew McDonald / FOX Weather)
As floodwaters proceed to interaction communities, officials successful Lewis County person declared a section authorities of exigency aft wide flooding damaged nationalist infrastructure, backstage property, roads, bridges, culverts, utilities and different captious facilities, according to the Lewis County Commission.
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The exigency declaration authorizes the Lewis County Office of Emergency Management to coordinate each disposable section resources and petition further assistance from the West Virginia Emergency Management Division and, if necessary, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
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Authorities person conducted aggregate h2o rescues, responded to dozens of flooded homes and impassable roads.
Catastrophic flooding tin beryllium seen successful Weston, West Virginia, connected July 22, 2026.
(Andrew McDonald / FOX Weather)
It's chartless if determination are immoderate injuries astatine this time. The concern continues to germinate arsenic crews enactment to assistance their communities.
In summation to rescues, a creek adjacent Buckhannon successful north-central West Virginia, called Sand Run, surged to grounds levels.
Sand Run astatine Buckhannon, West Virginia.
According to preliminary stream data, Sand Run roseate much than 8 feet successful little than 5 hours, cresting astatine implicit 10.63 feet, crushing the erstwhile record.
The accelerated emergence shattered the erstwhile grounds of 8.34 feet, which was acceptable successful 1985 during 1 of the region's astir important flood events.
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"Please support our archetypal responders successful your prayers tonight. Across cardinal West Virginia, they are moving done implicit acheronian with lone the lights from their trucks, boats and rescue instrumentality showing what is straight successful beforehand of them. They are driving into flooded areas wherever roads whitethorn beryllium washed distant and taking boats into fast-moving h2o filled with debris and hidden dangers," Sen. Ben Queen, who represents the 12th District of West Virginia, said successful a statement.
Road flooded owed to Flash Flood Emergency successful Weston, West Virginia.
(Ashtyn Hebert)
In summation to the flooding, determination were besides aggregate tornado warnings issued successful the northwest country of the authorities Tuesday night.
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Officials impulse residents to debar flooded roadways and heed each evacuation orders and exigency instructions arsenic the flood exigency remains ongoing.
Catastrophic flooding causes harm successful West Virginia.
(Ashtyn Hebert)
In a statement, Vienna Mayor Chad Emrick said, "As we bespeak connected today’s devastating storms, our hearts are with the galore families crossed West Virginia who are facing unimaginable loss, damage, and uncertainty. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we basal with each assemblage that has suffered loss."
The concern remains dynamic, with further rainfall threatening to worsen already unsafe conditions.
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