Tag: Severe Weather

Tomblin Declares State of Emergency for All 55 Counties

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin transitioned his declared State of Preparedness to a State of Emergency Friday morning for all 55 counties in West Virginia.

The declaration allows the governor to mobilize additional resources to handle the severe weather.

“Because winter weather conditions are expected to become more severe over the next few days, I have transitioned the State of Preparedness declaration into a State of Emergency to continue deployment of key resources from the West Virginia National Guard, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, Department of Transportation and other necessary agencies,” Tomblin said in a written statement.

Both the Department of Transportation and West Virginia National Guard began deploying those resources Thursday.

Tomblin’s declaration does not mandate the closure of schools or restrict travel, but West Virginians needing assistance are being encouraged to contact their local office of emergency management. Below are links to sources of additional information.

School Closures 

County Emergency Management Offices

Facebook page for Winter Storm Jonas

Damage Assessments Begin Thursday in 10 W.Va. Counties

On Thursday, officials with the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will begin conducting joint preliminary damage assessments with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in ten counties after this week’s severe thunderstorms. 

These first assessments will record damages to personal property and infrastructure in Braxton, Clay, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Nicholas, Putnam, Roane, Webster, and Wood counties.  Governor Tomblin declared a State of Emergency in those counties this week.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Public Information Office T.D. Lively urges property owners to report any damage to their county emergency management office.

Thousands of West Virginians were still without power Wednesday.  With over 5,000 outages, Mon Power expected to have the lights back on for its customers around 11:30 Wednesday night. 

Officials at Appalachian Power say electricity will be restored in stages.  Service restoration was expected to be complete by Wednesday night in Beckley, Bluefield, Charleston, Hico, Glasgow, Madison, Walgrove and Welch.

Restoration is expected to be completed in Logan and Williamson Thursday night.

In Hamlin, Huntington, Milton, Point Pleasant, Ripley and Wayne restoration may extend into Friday evening.

More Than 50,000 Without Power in West Virginia

 More than 50,000 customers remain without electricity after severe thunderstorms rolled through West Virginia.

Appalachian Power says on its website that nearly 49,000 customers had no service Wednesday across 16 counties in southern West Virginia. That includes nearly 13,000 customers in Cabell County, 8,000 in Wayne County and more than 5,000 each in Kanawha and Logan counties.

FirstEnergy says about 3,200 customers had no service.

The storms Tuesday night brought high wind gusts and lightning but no significant rainfall amounts.

The National Weather Service says more thunderstorms are possible in the state Wednesday.

West Virginians Urged to Stay Safe, Warm During Extreme Cold

From the W.Va. Dept. of Military Affairs and Public Safety:

Temperatures are forecasted to plunge well below zero degrees Fahrenheit throughout the state over the next 24 hours, and West Virginians are urged to take precautions. The severe cold and dangerous wind chills bring the threat of hypothermia and frostbite from prolonged exposure. Unsafe efforts to stay warm, meanwhile, can lead to fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Experts advise the following:
 

  • Stay indoors during such extreme winter weather. When venturing outside, it is dress in layers and limit skin exposure.
  • If required to travel, make sure your vehicle has a full tank and bring along blankets, extra warm clothing and such gear as a flashlight and ice scraper. 
  • Check on loved ones and neighbors who are older or disabled. Bring all pets indoors, and make sure animals have both a warm space and ice-free water. 
  •  Stay tuned to local radio, TV or other media for weather updates, or a NOAA weather radio if available.
  • Avoid frozen or broken pipes by ensuring plumbing is weatherproofed. Consider turning on a faucet to a trickle – but NEVER leave a faucet running in an empty house. If a pipe bursts, shut off the water supply. Use hot water or a hair dryer to thaw frozen pipes – NEVER an open flame.
  • Only rely on space heaters designed for indoor use and that meet the latest safety requirements. Keep a 3-foot space around heaters, and store any fuel properly. 
  • Make sure you have an emergency kit and a plan for your family to stay in contact in case of a power outage. 
  •  If you are left without heat, contact your local Office of Emergency Services or health department for the location of the nearest warming station or shelter.  

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management plans to provide additional information throughout this weather event.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued in Addition to Wind Advisory

Update: Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 9:30

Here’s a roundup of tweets from local and regional authorities, including emergency services and the National Weather Service:

Update: Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 9:14 p.m.

In addition to a wind advisory in effect for most of the state, a severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the western portion of West Virginia.  The National Weather Service in Charleston reports this watch is in effect until 1 a.m. Monday.

Original Story Published on Sunday, November 15, 2013 at 5:35 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, a wind advisory remains in place overnight Sunday, Nov. 17, for most of the state until 4 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18.

Credit National Weather Service
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  Wind gusts up to 50 mph are expected with the strongest periods of wind between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. The National Weather Service reports winds of this strength can down power lines and possibly trees and can also make driving difficult. Using extreme caution while driving is advised.

Specific advisories, including times by area are listed below. Advisories are as of 5:30p.m. Nov. 17:

Greenbrier; Mercer; Summers
Issued: November 17 at 4:00PM EST
Expiring: November 18 at 6:00AM EST  

Brooke; Hancock; Marshall; Ohio; Wetzel
Issued: November 17 at 3:34PM EST
Expiring: November 18 at 7:00AM EST

Marion; Monongalia
Issued: November 17 at 3:34PM EST
Expiring: November 18 at 7:00AM EST

Preston; Tucker
Issued: November 17 at 3:34PM EST
Expiring: November 18 at 7:00AM EST

Barbour; Boone; Braxton; Cabell; Calhoun; Clay; Doddridge; Fayette; Gilmer; Harrison; Jackson; Kanawha; Lewis; Lincoln; Logan; Mason; Mingo; Nicholas; Pleasants; Pocahontas; Putnam; Raleigh; Randolph; Ritchie; Roane; Taylor; Tyler; Upshur; Wayne; Webster; Wirt; Wood
Issued: November 17 at 2:34PM EST
Expiring: November 18 at 4:00AM EST

McDowell; Wyoming
Issued: November 17 at 2:34PM EST
Expiring: November 18 at 4:00AM EST  

Eastern Grant; Eastern Pendleton; Hardy; Western Grant; Western Mineral; Western Pendleton
Issued: November 17 at 12:35PM EST
Expiring: November 18 at 6:00AM EST

 

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