Tag: Emergency Alert

Justice Declares State Of Emergency, Sweeping Storms Cause Power Outages

A powerful line of storms rolled across West Virginia on Tuesday, knocking down trees and powerlines. The storms brought power outages for more than 100,000 residents across the state.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Updated on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 3:20 p.m.

Gov. Justice has declared a State of Emergency for Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln and Nicholas counties Tuesday due to severe thunderstorms with high winds, which caused flooding, downed trees, power outages, and road blockages.

The declaration is a proactive measure ensuring the allocation of necessary resources and expedition of emergency response efforts. The State of Emergency allows State and Local agencies to take swift and decisive actions to mitigate the impact of the storms and protect the lives and property of West Virginians.

Original Story: Sweeping Storms Spur Tornado Watch, Power Outages

A powerful line of storms rolled across West Virginia on Tuesday, knocking down trees and powerlines.

According to the National Weather Service, several rounds of thunderstorms are expected to continue into the night.

The storms could also bring “damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and tornadoes,” the National Weather Service reported.

Storms will hit central West Virginia between 4 and 9 p.m. and move east.

In response to the storms, Marshall University closed its campuses for the remainder of the day Tuesday afternoon.

In West Virginia, storms knocked down trees and powerlines throughout Tuesday, bringing tornado and thunderstorm advisories to counties across the state.

Graphic Credit: National Weather Service

Emergency alerts and sirens sounded across Kanawha County Tuesday morning, as thirteen counties in southwestern West Virginia were placed under a tornado watch.

The Kanawha County Commission issued a state of emergency over the storms Tuesday afternoon. In a press release, the commission said 911 dispatchers had received more than 500 calls regarding the tornado warning that morning.

“Metro received calls regarding structure collapses, entrapments, vehicle wrecks, fires, fallen trees, and many medical calls,” the press release read. “There [have] been reported touch downs of tornadoes in the western portion of the county, but no confirmation at this time.”

As of 12:30 p.m., Appalachian Power reported 118,000 power outages, 53,000 of them in Kanawha County alone.

The commission urged Gov. Jim Justice to issue Kanawha County a state of emergency over the weather.

For additional updates on the storms, visit the National Weather Service website.

Flooding Committee Hears Update On Damage And FEMA Response

The community has not received a disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) yet. If there is a FEMA declaration there will be public and individual assistance. Public assistance will aid in recovering infrastructure while individual assistance will help homeowners. 

The legislature’s Joint Committee on Flooding met Sunday to discuss the recent flooding in eastern Kanawha County. 

Members of the committee learned that two homes were completely destroyed, 32 homes have major damage, 54 homes have minor damage, and 22 private bridges were destroyed in the flash floods that took place along Little, Fields, and Slaughters creeks in late August. 

Director of Kanawha County’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management, C.W. Sigman says only 9 percent of residents affected by the flood had flood insurance.  

“They are not going to get compensated 100 percent. They’ll have enough money, if we get a FEMA declaration, to kind-of get them back on their feet,” Sigman said.  

The community has not received a disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) yet. If there is a FEMA declaration there will be public and individual assistance. Public assistance will aid in recovering infrastructure while individual assistance will help homeowners. 

Emergency Alert Sytems

Sigman also discussed the need for better alert systems for rural communities since many flood victims did not receive any emergency warning until after the flood had begun. 

“We’re looking at putting sirens in. We just put some in in the Loudendale area,” Sigman said. 

However Sigman said that sirens are not the most effective alert system in mountainous regions like West Virginia. He said that better cell phone connectivity would be another possible way to reach rural residents. 

“I am an old volunteer firefighter. Sirens (are) not very good at alerting volunteers. It’s not gonna be very effective for alerting the public,” Sigman said. “So that wireless emergency alert is a proven performer on your cell phone.”

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