As Residents Clean Up From Flooding, Officials Tally Damage Total

Flash flooding in northern and north-central West Virginia communities has left millions of dollars in damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. The rain that began Friday resulted in high, rushing waters that days later, families are still trying to recover from. Eight counties are under a state of emergency and members of the National Guard have been mobilized to deal with the damage.

Much of that damage is concentrated in Marion and Wetzel counties. While official totals haven’t been released, the state Division of Highways estimates each county experienced more than $1 million in damage to roadways. The towns of Mannington and Hundred were hit particularly hard. But as Jesse Wright reports, people in these close-knit communities rallied around each other from moment disaster struck.

State officials and first responders in northern and north-central West Virginia are tallying up the damage caused by flooding in the areas late last week. Major General James Hoyer, of the West Virginia National Guard, says those estimates include nearly $7 million in damage to roadways, nearly $2 million in damage between five schools, and says as many as 900 homes could be affected by the time officials finish their survey of the area.

Hoyer spoke with Ashton Marra about the Guard’s response to the heavy storms and high water. Hoyer says he requested mobilization of his men and women as soon as the rain started to fall.