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Justice Expands Storm Emergency Declaration To 8 New Counties

On Thursday, Gov. Jim Justice expanded a state of emergency declaration to include seven additional West Virginia counties: Barbour, Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Wetzel and Wood counties.

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.

Rainfall Helps Contain Wildfires, But Problems Persist For Residents

Storms swept West Virginia on Tuesday, providing rainfall over wildfires in the eastern region of the state. Meanwhile, residents are still grappling with property damages on the ground.

Storms swept through West Virginia on Tuesday, knocking down trees and powerlines.

But the rainfall provided an unexpected benefit to communities in the Potomac Highlands and Eastern Panhandle: helping quash fires that have burned for days on end.

Emergency responders are continuing to monitor the region after extensive wildfires burned through more than 5,000 acres in late March.

All of the wildfires have since been contained, which means emergency responders have surrounded them to restrict their spread. But portions of the fire continue to burn, and smaller fires have popped up elsewhere in the state.

Now, the added rainfall has helped emergency responders gain further control over the wildfires, according to Assistant State Forester Linda Carnell.

“We’ve already got over an inch of rain,” she said. “Yes, there are hindrances to too much rain. But, in the long run, this will definitely help get the upper edge on all these fires.”

Still, Carnell said rainstorms are often followed by intense winds. That means residents should remain vigilant about fire safety protocol.

In the meantime, though, she said emergency responders are appreciative of the win.

“It’s a good thing. We’re happy for the rain,” Carnell said. “We definitely needed it.”

A large puddle on Shepherd University’s campus Tuesday following heavy rain. Rainstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday helped further contain wildfires in West Virginia’s Potomac Highlands and Eastern Panhandle.

*Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

While the wildfires have been contained, damages continue to affect residents on the ground.

Paul Lewis serves as director of emergency management for Hardy County, one of the areas most affected by the fires. He said the fires have caused significant structural damage, and displaced some residents from their homes.

“We’ve had some houses lost and those people right now are in one of the shelters trying to find a place to relocate,” he said. “There’s at least two families there.”

In addition to homes, several cabins and outbuildings have been destroyed by the flames, he said.

While county officials continue to monitor the situation locally, Lewis said that residents have coordinated with relief organizations to access additional support.

For example, the Catholic Charities of West Virginia has provided resources to residents in need. The Hardy County 4-H Camp, located in Wardensville, has also served as a temporary relief shelter for some residents, he said.

Additionally, Lewis said residents facing damage to their places of residence can contact The American Red Cross of the Greater Shenandoah Valley for further support.

Lewis said the county is still collecting data on the extent of structural damages and further updates will be provided in future.

For more information on wildfire incidents in West Virginia, visit the Division of Forestry’s Fire Report webpage.

Residents affected by the wildfires can contact the Central Appalachian Region of the American Red Cross for support.

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.

Justice Wages ‘All-Out Assault’ On West Virginia’s Potholes

Gov. Jim Justice announced he would use an upcoming spell of warm weather to tackle an increase in potholes on West Virginia roadways, with the help of a Putnam County asphalt plant.

With clear weather on the horizon, Gov. Jim Justice said that he will launch an “all-out assault” on potholes, with goals to repair the worst on state roadways in the week ahead.

Justice announced the initiative, dubbed “Operation RIP Potholes,” in a Wednesday press briefing, with the AI-generated graphic of a headstone beside him on the livestream. He accredited the move toward road repair to the upcoming clear weather, and the winter storm that exacerbated road damage earlier this month.

Typically, West Virginia asphalt plants close for the winter because it is difficult to fill potholes in freezing conditions.

But Justice said the clear weather presents an opportunity for the state. He partnered with an asphalt plant in Putnam County, which agreed to temporarily reopen for the week or so ahead to repair severe road damages.

Justice has also made arrangements with asphalt plants in Princeton and Morgantown to join the project beginning Feb. 5, according to a Wednesday press release.

The state is currently patching potholes with hot asphalt mix in 10 West Virginia counties — Boone, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putnam and Wayne counties, specifically — according to Jake Bumgarner, operations division director for the West Virginia Department of Highways. Bumgarner delivered an update on Justice’s project during the press briefing.

Additionally, Bumgarner said that the state is working to fill potholes with cold mix asphalt in all 55 counties. Cold mix asphalt is a cheaper, less durable material typically used as a short-term pothole fix.

Justice added that this winter he experienced first-hand the dangers posed by potholes.

“Just the other day… as I was coming down the turnpike, there was a series of four or five (potholes) and they were really bad,” Justice said. “It could cause big-time wrecks.”

Potholes can form when freezing road conditions are followed by sudden spells of warmth, like last week’s winter storm.

“That freeze-thaw cycle is heck on our roads,” Bumgarner said.

With climate change raising temperatures statewide, researchers say these conditions are likely to continue in years ahead. For now, Justice said his administration is doing what it can to address potholes on a case-by-case basis.

“I know that they’re tough on your vehicles, and we’re trying,” he said. “We’re absolutely trying, and we’re going to try even harder.”

Safeguarding Against Winter Wandering In People With Dementia

In light of recent winter weather, national and local dementia specialists encourage caretakers to reinforce safety precautions for loved ones who are prone to wandering.

As another West Virginia winter roars on, state and national specialists remind residents to reinforce safety precautions for their loved ones with dementia.

Individuals with dementia face more safety risks in periods of inclement weather, like the snowstorms that swept the Midwest and East Coast this weekend. Wandering away from home without preparing for low temperatures and icy conditions can increase the risk of falling, getting lost or becoming seriously injured outside.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) recently shared tips for taking care of individuals with dementia during the winter.

The AFA underscored the importance of keeping watch over home exit ways and developing a customized safety plan for each individual. These plans should take into account the makeup of a person’s home, the times of day when their condition worsens and the locations they might visit while wandering.

Taking advance precautions during spells of intense weather helps protect West Virginia residents with dementia, according to Joanie Maloney, family caregiver program manager for Kanawha Valley Senior Services.

Maloney explained that wandering can occur year-round, but that “it’s just a lot more on the dangerous side if the weather is extremely cold or extremely hot.”

Dressing loved ones with dementia appropriately for the weather — regardless of whether they plan to go outside — is another way family caretakers can reduce the risks of unexpected wandering, she said.

By providing these individuals cold-weather clothing and foot coverings, Maloney said that caretakers safeguard their loved ones from frostbite and other weather-related risks associated with cold-weather wandering.

“Definitely go ahead and dress them for the occasion,” she said.

Maloney added that the winter months are a good time to reinforce house locks and at-home safety features, ensuring that precautions are in place to support loved ones during the winter months and beyond.

“Safety is key,” she said. “ No one ever wants their loved one to be exposed to any kind of harsh weather, especially the cold.”

Agencies Brace For Flooding With More Rain On The Way

Many of the areas that saw flooding Monday are on track for more rain Tuesday and into the night.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Many of the areas that saw flooding Monday are on track for more rain Tuesday and into the night.

Jennifer Berryman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said light rain is expected thoughout the day in central and southern West Virginia with heavier rain possible into the evening.

The Division of Emergency Management, National Guard, Metro 911, Emergency Operations Center and the National Weather Service are all standing by waiting to see what storms develop and where.

There is a 60-80 percent chance of rain over central, eastern and southern West Virginia. Berryman said that storms are tracking to cross over Charleston up to Clarksburg, and other cells to move over Fayette County down to McDowell County.

She said that the weather service still doesn’t know how much precipitation these fronts will deliver to those areas.

Kanawha County Commissioner Lance Wheeler was at the Emergency Operations Center at Kanawha County Metro 911 Monday and said that those agencies are fully staffed and ready to assist if another heavy rain does cause more flooding.

“The big question is — is the storm front going to move though or is it going to hover over the area and drop a lot of rain?” said Wheeler.

He said after four days of rain the soil is completely saturated.

“The ground can only take so much water,” Wheeler said. “When this rain comes a third time, it’s going to roll right off the hill and it’s going to fill in these valleys and this river, and it’s going to bring that water level even higher. So, what we could see is maybe less rain coming in, but more potential for hazard.”

Wheeler advised residents not to underestimate the potential danger and to have a plan for Tuesday evening if there are more floods.

“So, we told people, take this seriously, this isn’t like your casual floods that you’ve seen in the past. This is the most rain many of these areas have seen in a lifetime,” Wheeler said.

He encouraged residents to listen for flood alert sirens and stay vigilant of any flooding even if it is not yet at the door. He cautioned the water can rise quickly. He also advised to not cross any streams and instead call for a water rescue.

Wheeler said before they can start cleaning up and assessing damage, they are putting resources towards preparedness for another possible heavy rainfall.

West Virginia’s National Guard’s Edwin “Bo” Wriston said they are reaching out to see if they are needed for immediate help but are not doing damage assessments at this time.

Wriston said they are waiting to see what the storm front brings and if the governor calls them back into action.