Curtis Tate Published

Justice Issues State Of Preparedness Ahead Of Severe Weather

A car drives over wet pavement after a severe summer storm under gloomy skies.Emily Rice / WVPB

Gov. Jim Justice on Monday issued a state of preparedness for all 55 counties with forecasts of severe weather statewide.

As of Monday afternoon, the entire state was under a tornado watch, with pockets of the state under a severe thunderstorm warning.

Much of northern West Virginia, including the upper Ohio Valley, was under a flash flood warning.

A state of preparedness puts the state Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) on a higher level of readiness to respond to an emergency.

Justice and the WVEMD ask residents to monitor local forecasts, follow instructions from emergency management officials and have a way to receive weather alerts.

National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories can be found through the agency’s offices in Charleston, Pittsburgh, Baltimore-Washington and Blacksburg, Virginia.