Updated on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 12:15 p.m.
On Monday, Gov. Jim Justice expanded last week’s state of emergency declaration to include Pleasants County.
Justice cited “severe thunderstorms” that caused “flooding, downed trees, power outages and road blockages” for the local community last week in a Monday press release.
With the expanded declaration, a state of emergency is now in place for 15 counties across the state in response to the storms.
Original Story: Justice Expands Storm Emergency Declaration To 7 New Counties
Gov. Jim Justice expanded a Tuesday state of emergency declaration to include seven additional West Virginia counties on Thursday.
Under the amended declaration, Barbour, Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Wetzel and Wood counties are now under a state of emergency.
They join Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln and Nicholas counties, which received the declaration earlier this week.
The emergency declaration follows intense storms that stretched across West Virginia, bringing power outages, structural damages and even an EF-2 tornado in Fayette County, with winds of 130 mph.
By expanding the emergency declaration, Justice opened new counties up to emergency response resources.
Meanwhile, a state of preparedness declaration that Justice issued on Tuesday remains in effect for all 55 counties in the state.
A step down from a state of emergency, this declaration still encourages residents to stay vigilant regarding public safety concerns.
For additional information on the storms, visit the National Weather Service website.
Residents seeking non-emergency assistance related to the storms can contact local dispatchers through the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD). Visit the WVEMD website for more information.