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West Virginia death toll rises to 23 in state's worst floods in a century West Virginia death toll rises to 23 in state's worst floods in a century
(about 9 hours later)
As a deluge swamped West Virginia in a disaster that killed at least 23 people Ronnie Scott’s wife called him and told him their house was filling up with water. She fled to the attic with two dogs and a cat and waited. She smelled natural gas. Heavy rains that pummelled West Virginia left at least 23 people dead, and authorities said on Saturday that an unknown number of people in the hardest-hit county remained unaccounted for.
Then, the house blew up.
Belinda Scott was able to break a vent and get out onto a porch, then make it onto a tree, which she clung to for hours before being rescued by state police, Ronnie Scott said on Friday. His wife was in the hospital with burns to 67% of her body. The pets did not make it out alive.
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“My wife was out there four and a half hours hanging in a tree with a house burning right beside her, flood waters running all around her,” said Scott. Most of the dead and all of the missing, officials believe, were in the county of Greenbrier – home of the renowned golf resort of the same name.
Early reports indicate about 9 inches of rain damaged or destroyed more than 100 homes and knocked out power to tens of thousands of others, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin said. “The reports we got this morning are that Greenbrier County may still have some folks unaccounted for,” said Chris Stadelman, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s chief of staff. “It does not appear there are unaccounted-for people in other counties, but it’s still a somewhat fluid situation.”
About 500 people were stranded overnight in a shopping center when a bridge washed out, and dozens of other people had to be plucked off rooftops or rescued from their cars. Stadelman said there were still “lots of folks in shelters” and the state would apply for federal disaster funds. Scores of homes were damaged.
“Our focus remains on search and rescue,” the governor said. He added: “It’s been a long 24 hours and the next 24 hours may not be much easier.” In one bizarre twist, a woman sustained burns over two-thirds of her body after her deluged house blew up. Belinda Scott of White Sulphur Springs called her husband Ronnie and told him their house was filling up with water. She fled to the attic and waited. She smelled natural gas. Then the house exploded.
Sheriff Jan Cahill described “complete chaos” in Greenbrier County, one of the hardest hit. Scott was able to break a vent and get out to a porch, then make it on to a tree, to which she clung for hours before being rescued by state police, her husband said.
“My wife was out there four and a half hours hanging in a tree with a house burning right beside her, flood waters running all around her,” said Ronnie.
About 500 people were stranded overnight in a shopping center when a bridge washed out, and dozens of other people had to be plucked off rooftops or rescued from their cars. The Greenbrier County sheriff, Jan Cahill, described “complete chaos” in his county.
“Roads destroyed, bridges out, homes burned down, washed off foundations,” he said. “Multiple sections of highway just missing. Pavement just peeled off like a banana. I’ve never seen anything like that.”“Roads destroyed, bridges out, homes burned down, washed off foundations,” he said. “Multiple sections of highway just missing. Pavement just peeled off like a banana. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
In the towns of Rainelle and White Sulphur Springs, rescue crews went door to door to check on residents, a painstaking task that could stretch into the weekend. Once a residence was checked, a red or orange Xwas marked on the home. The state division of homeland security reported 15 people killed in Greenbrier County as rescue efforts continue. Other deaths were reported in Kanawha, Jackson and Ohio counties.
The state Division of Homeland Security reported 15 people killed in Greenbrier County and rescue efforts continue. Two hundred national guardsmen were assisting in eight counties, helping local crews with water rescues, search and extraction efforts, and health and welfare checks. The governor declared a state of emergency in 44 of 54 counties and authorized up to 500 soldiers to assist.
Around 200 National Guardsmen were assisting in eight counties, helping local crews with swift water rescues, search and extraction efforts and health and welfare checks. The governor declared a state of emergency in 44 of 54 counties and authorized up to 500 soldiers to assist. The governor said he had planned to fly around the hard-hit areas, but wasn’t able to do so because all state aircraft were being used for rescues.
The governor said he had planned to fly around the hard-hit areas, but was not able to because all state aircraft were being used for rescues. Eric Blackshire was one of the stranded at Crossings Mall, a mix of restaurants, stores and a hotel in Elkview, about 15 miles north-east of Charleston. Some had to sleep in their cars or at businesses overnight. Blackshire opted for a hotel room.
Some of the heaviest rainfall was in Greenbrier County, where The Greenbrier resort and golf course is nestled in the mountains. The course, overrun by floodwaters, is scheduled to host a PGA tour event from 4-10 July. “It was kind of like a hurricane party. I guess you could call it a flood party. There were lots of beers being drank last night,” he said.
He was able to get to safety on Friday when volunteer firefighters used a rope to guide people down a hillside. Crews were working to build a gravel road on the backside of the shopping plaza.
An area near the West Virginia-Virginia border received at least 9in of rain while other parts of the state had 3-5in, National Weather Service hydrologist John Sikora said. While most of the rain had tapered off on Friday, there were still scattered showers, thunderstorms and river flood warnings.
Some of the heaviest rainfall was in Greenbrier County, where the Greenbrier luxury resort and golf course is nestled in the mountains. The course, overrun by floodwaters, is scheduled to host a PGA tour event from 4-10 July.
“It’s like nothing I’ve seen,” owner Jim Justice, a Democratic candidate for governor, said in a statement. “But our focus right now isn’t on the property, golf course or anything else. We’re praying for the people and doing everything we can to get them the help they need.”“It’s like nothing I’ve seen,” owner Jim Justice, a Democratic candidate for governor, said in a statement. “But our focus right now isn’t on the property, golf course or anything else. We’re praying for the people and doing everything we can to get them the help they need.”
Professional golfer Bubba Watson was visiting the resort and tweeted photos of entire holes underwater: “Prayers for @The_Greenbrier & surrounding areas. We are without power & it’s still raining. Never seen this much rain! #WestVirginiaBeSafe.” The professional golfer Bubba Watson was apparently visiting the resort and tweeted photos of entire holes underwater: “Prayers for @The_Greenbrier & surrounding areas. We are without power & it’s still raining. Never seen this much rain! #WestVirginiaBeSafe”.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was sending teams to help with damage assessments.The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was sending teams to help with damage assessments.
The governor’s office said 14 deaths were confirmed by the state medical examiner. Local sheriffs and rescue workers across the state confirmed the others not yet included in the state’s official tally.
One of the dead included a 4-year-old boy who was found about a quarter mile from where he fell into a creek, which usually runs about ankle deep but rose to about 6 feet deep when Jackson County was pounded with 9 inches of rain in 16 hours.
Bob Bibbee of the Ravenswood Fire Department said the boy was outside with his grandfather, who jumped in after him. Neighbors, alerted by the sound of the family’s screams, tried to help save the boy but were also unable to reach him.
In White Sulphur Springs, Scott said out of 10 houses on his dead end street, only three were left standing, and they were badly damaged. His son, daughter-in-law, two grandkids and a nephew were two houses down and trapped in the attic during the storm, but they were also rescued.
“Everything that I’ve lost can be replaced,” he said. “I’ve got my kids and that’s the main thing.”