This is a developing story and will be updated.
Updated on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
West Virginia Conservation Agency (WVCA) technicians have been deployed to assess the extent of flood-related debris blockages and damages and provide assistance to affected residents. Residents may be eligible for Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program assistance.
Residents should contact their specific conservation district to report a debris blockage.
Barbour, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker and Upshur counties are in the Tygarts Valley Conservation District: (304) 457-3026.
Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties are in the Eastern Panhandle Conservation District: (304) 263-4376.
Boone, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo and Wayne counties are in the Guyan Conservation District: (304) 528-5718.
Braxton, Clay, Nicholas and Webster counties are in the Elk Conservation District: (304) 765-2535.
Brooke, Hancock, Marshall and Ohio counties are in the Northern Panhandle Conservation District: (304) 238-1231.
Calhoun, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties are in the Little Kanawha Conservation District: (304) 422-9088.
Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison and Lewis counties are in the West Fork Conservation District: (304) 627-2160.
Fayette, McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming counties are in the Southern Conservation District: (304) 253-0261.
Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral and Pendleton counties are in the Potomac Valley Conservation District: (304) 822-5174.
Greenbrier, Monroe and Pocahontas counties are in the Greenbrier Valley Conservation District: (304) 645-6173.
Jackson, Mason and Putnam counties are in the Western Conservation District: (304) 675-3054.
Kanawha County is in the Capitol Conservation District: (304) 759-0736.
Marion, Monongalia and Preston counties are in the Monongahela Conservation District: (304) 296-0081.
Pleasants, Tyler and Wetzel counties are in the Upper Ohio Conservation District: (304) 758-2512.
Updated on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 2 p.m.
The following is a statement from the Upshur County Commission regarding the flood emergency.
The Upshur County Commission extends its thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by the recent flooding. We understand communication has been challenging due to the widespread nature of this emergency. Please know that the Commission has been in constant communication with our Office of Emergency Management, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Buckhannon, Buckhannon Fire Department, our volunteer fire departments, EMS, the West Virginia Division of Highways, the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and other state and local partners. The State of West Virginia has offered its full support and stands ready to provide additional resources as needed.
We are incredibly grateful for every first responder, dispatcher, road crew, utility worker, and volunteer working tirelessly to keep our community safe. If you do not need to travel, we ask that you please stay home and avoid damaged areas. This will allow emergency responders, utility crews, and the Division of Highways to safely continue cleanup, restore services, and reopen roads as quickly as possible.
We have also received many offers of food, supplies, and volunteer assistance. We are truly grateful. Once additional assistance is needed and we have secured drop-off locations, we will let the public know.
Please continue to keep those affected, our responders, and everyone involved in the recovery effort in your thoughts and prayers.
Updated on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 1:18 p.m.
Search and rescue operations have been going on throughout the night in Lewis County as emergency crews search homes and stranded vehicles.
“Our fire department guys were going and picking people up in boats and taking them to the fire department and shuttling them to the Lewis County High School,” Weston Mayor Kim Harrison said. “They’ve worked all night long helping people to get to safer ground. Once that’s completed, then we can start cleanup. We’ve got a place to haul all of the vehicles off that were flooded, and there’s tons of debris all over the town.”
So far there has been no loss of life reported and no persons unaccounted for, city manager Joe Solberg said.
Lewis County is accepting donations for storm victims at the 272 Market Place Mall in Weston, locally referred to as the “Old Kroger” location, through 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The following items are needed:
- Bottled water
- Cleaning supplies
- Personal hygiene items
- Non-perishable food
A shelter is open at Lewis County High School, located at 205 Minuteman Drive in Weston, for anyone who has been displaced from their home.
Updated on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 11 a.m.
A flood warning was extended until 4:30 p.m. for all of Harrison, Taylor and Barbour counties, as well as northwestern Randolph County and northeastern Upshur County. The update, posted just after 10 a.m. by the Upshur County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said it “will take several hours for all the water from these storms to work through local drainage systems.”
Original Story:
Much of the state was pummeled last night by heavy storms, torrential rains and high winds.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Charleston reports that the northern and central parts of the state were hardest hit, with between three and five-and-a-half inches of rain in Lewis County, and as much as seven inches of rain reported in Upshur County.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a State of Emergency Tuesday night for all 55 counties.
“Many West Virginians are helping communities deal with flooding, property damage, and dangerous conditions tonight,” Morrisey said. “State and local emergency officials are working to assist those affected, and this declaration ensures we can quickly deploy resources wherever help is needed. I urge every West Virginian to exercise an abundance of caution, stay off flooded roadways, monitor local forecasts, and follow the direction of emergency officials.”
Morrisey issued a State of Preparedness Tuesday afternoon as severe weather approached and directed state agencies to stand ready to respond. As the day progressed, a series of storm systems moved across the state, producing severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, torrential rainfall, mudslides, and rapidly rising water in many communities. The most significant impacts have been reported in Lewis, Pleasants, and Upshur counties, where flooding and related damage have prompted ongoing emergency response efforts.
In Buckhannon where medical technician Amber Smith and her family live, their street was quickly overrun with flood waters.
“About 30 minutes after it started raining, we started to get a flow of water down the middle of our road. It was like a river,” she said. “Vehicles started getting submerged so most of the people were moving vehicles. Our vehicles were pulled up into our yard pretty far, we didn’t think they would get touched at all. But they are now about three foot under water. I mean it was a flash flood, absolutely.”
NWS reports heavy wind damage and significant water pooling and reminds drivers not to proceed on flooded streets.
The statewide declaration of emergency allows state agencies to coordinate resources, activate emergency response capabilities, and deploy personnel and equipment as conditions warrant while the severe weather system continues to move across West Virginia. State officials are in close communication with county emergency managers and local officials to monitor conditions, assess damage, and support response efforts.
Wednesday morning West Virginia 511, the West Virginia Department of Transportation’s traveler information system, showed dozens of closed roads and other flood related safety incidents including washed out culvers, disabled traffic signs and high water on roads.
Both lanes of I-79 were closed at Jane Lew just after midnight. 511 indicated that the southbound lane remained closed at 9:15 a.m. starting at Quiet Dell due to high water on the interstate.
On Facebook, Lewis County Commissioner Bobby Stewart provided an update including the location of a shelter at Lewis County High School and local road closures to assist rescue and cleanup efforts.
“Please do not drive on the roadways unless necessary. If you must drive, heed road closed signs and use caution,” he said. “Please do not self-deploy to assist. Please do not send any physical donations at this time. Donations will be needed later.”
The Lewis-Gilmer E911 page on Facebook reported that water rescues were ongoing throughout Lewis County overnight and that the West Virginia National Guard were already on scene.