Weather Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Heavy Rainfall To Continue Through Weekend

The National Weather Service forecasts heavy rainfall across the state this weekend that will continue well into Sunday.

Ongoing inclement weather in the Mountain State has dumped about an inch and a half of rain on the central part of the state, but anywhere from three to four inches of rain on the western part of the state in the past two days, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The NWS forecasts heavy rainfall across the state that will continue well into Sunday.

“The rain started late Wednesday into Thursday morning, and in terms of total rainfall, there has been one to four inches of rain,” said Joe Curtis, meteorologist at the NWS Charleston office. “We are finally going to get some dry weather next Monday.”

Twenty-three counties across West Virginia are currently under flood warnings, with reports of localized flash flooding already occurring Friday.

Meanwhile, Gov. Patrick Morrisey placed all 55 counties under a state of preparedness Wednesday through Sunday, readying emergency response officials for possible strong winds and severe rainfall.

“This time of year, we can get some strong systems moving through the region,” Curtis said. “This (spring) is a transition period where we can get some persistent systems.”

On Friday, Sen. Rupie Phillips, R-Logan, rose during Member Remarks at the end of the Senate floor session to ask his colleagues for help in drafting a resolution to send to Washington, D.C., to clean out the streams in his county, and many others like it in the southern coalfields.

“Right now, currently in Logan County, we’re flooding again,” Phillips said. “I’ve been trying to work on a resolution to send to D.C. to get the Army Corps involved, to get DEP involved, stream restoration. We have to fix this. It’s not even a little over a month, and we’re back again.”

Phillips asked his fellow lawmakers to assist him in writing the resolution before the conclusion of the legislative session on April 12.

“These streams are full of just fuel and everything,” Philips said.“There’s islands in the middle of the Guyandotte River, something needs to be done, we need to get this flooding under control. We can’t continue to get FEMA to come down here and that’s your tax dollars that FEMA is spending, and thank God that we have them, but we need to do something to prevent any flooding.”

The governor’s office urges residents to visit the National Weather Service website for updates throughout the weekend.

Drought Relief Business Loan Application Deadline Just Weeks Away

Businesses in 20 West Virginia counties affected by a severe dry spell last August may qualify for low-interest federal loans. But the deadline to apply is fast approaching.

Following severe weather and disaster events, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can offer affected “small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofits” economic injury disaster loans, according to a March 21 SBA press release.

Businesses do not need to experience direct physical damage to qualify. Instead of physical repairs, these loans go toward “working capital needs” from the disaster period, including outstanding debts, payroll balances and other bills.

Dollar amounts vary business to business, but the SBA can award loans up to $2 million, all with no accruing interest. Payments are not due until one year following a loan’s distribution.

Businesses seeking loans for last August’s drought must apply through the SBA by April 21. Twenty West Virginia counties qualify for the program: Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Nicholas, Putnam, Raleigh, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties.

“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA, in the press release. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”

To apply for an economic injury disaster loan online through the U.S. Small Business Administration, visit the SBA website.

For more information on the loan program, residents can contact the SBA over the phone at (800) 659-2955 or over email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Logan, Wayne Counties Now Eligible For Federal Aid Due To Flooding

Residents of Logan and Wayne counties are now eligible for federal aid dollars over severe flooding that struck southern West Virginia on Feb. 15.

Residents of Logan and Wayne counties are now eligible for federal aid dollars due to severe flooding that struck southern West Virginia on Feb. 15.

Four other counties in West Virginia — McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties — already received approval for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Feb. 26.

The flash flooding in February claimed lives across southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, and left residents to face significant structural and property damage.

West Virginia State Police reported on Feb. 19 that three residents died after their truck was swept into the Tug River. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced March 3 that flooding and flooding-related injuries killed 24 Kentucky residents, the Courier Journal previously reported.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey requested that areas affected by the flooding receive a major disaster declaration from the federal government Feb. 17.

The government can issue major disaster declarations after natural disasters to open regions up to ad hoc federal aid for things like immediate resident needs, business costs and property and infrastructure damages. But the declaration must first be issued by a state’s governor, then get okayed by the president’s office.

Logan and Wayne county residents can now access funds through FEMA’s individual assistance program, which helps individuals cover recovery costs for home and property damages.

Morrisey said in a press release Monday that he is still waiting to hear back on the inclusion of other counties in his original disaster declaration request — Boone, Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Raleigh and Summers counties.

“The individual assistance program will provide relief to those in need and aid our recovery efforts across southern West Virginia,” Morrisey said in the press release.

FEMA will also consider opening disaster recovery centers in both Logan and Wayne counties, according to the governor’s office. These pop-up centers help guide residents through the disaster aid application process.

For more information on how to apply for federal disaster aid, visit the FEMA website.

For information on resources available over February’s flooding incident and who qualifies, visit the FEMA webpage for the disaster declaration.

Federal Disaster Declaration Granted For 4 Southern W.Va. Counties

President Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties over severe flooding that swept southern West Virginia roughly two weeks ago.

President Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties over severe flooding that swept southern West Virginia beginning Feb. 15. Announced Wednesday, the declaration opens the region to financial aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Several communities in the state’s southern coalfields were devastated by flash flooding and river overflow. The extreme weather claimed at least three lives in southern West Virginia, and killed at least 23 people in neighboring Kentucky.

All 55 counties in the state were placed under a state of preparedness Feb. 6 over prior flash flooding, with Cabell and Kanawha counties also placed under a state of emergency.

Roughly one week later, with water levels still high, local officials reported decades-high levels of flooding from another bout of rainfall. On Feb. 15, Morrisey placed 13 counties under another state of emergency over the weather, which opens an area to emergency funds and mobilizes emergency personnel.

Morrisey requested that Trump issue the region a major disaster declaration on Feb. 17. Major disaster declarations make federal relief funds accessible to residents and businesses affected by disaster events, but first requires approval from the president’s office.

“The Major Disaster Declaration will supplement the work being completed on the ground and provide relief to recovering communities in southern West Virginia,” Morrisey said in a press release Wednesday evening.

Resources made available to the region by the federal major disaster declaration include FEMA’s Individual Assistance program and Hazard Mitigation Grant program, which provide financial aid to individual residents and public infrastructure, respectively.

For more information on how to apply for disaster aid, visit the FEMA website. For more information on Wednesday’s major disaster declaration, visit the FEMA webpage for the declaration.

State Of Emergency Declared For Cabell, Kanawha Counties Over Storms

The governor has placed Cabell and Kanawha counties under a state of emergency due to severe weather conditions that began Wednesday.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey placed all 55 West Virginia counties under a state of preparedness Wednesday, eyeing National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts of flash flooding, strong winds and freezing rains.

But the governor’s office announced Thursday that fallout from the storms warranted a more significant emergency preparedness declaration for the two southern West Virginia counties.

During a press briefing Thursday, Morrisey said his office would watch weather conditions throughout the state to determine whether additional support was needed on the local level.

“We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to help local counties address the immediate needs of the storm,” he said.

In his emergency declaration later that day, Morrisey cited “downed trees, power outages and road blockages” in Cabell and Kanawha counties that could pose a risk to residents.

“The effects of the storm pose a severe and continuing threat to the health, safety, welfare and property of the citizens of Cabell and Kanawha counties,” the declaration read.

Morrisey said Thursday afternoon that 18 counties had reported damages “from ice and storms,” and that schools were forced to close in Clay, Lincoln, Mason, Nicholas, Putnam and Wayne counties.

A state of emergency declaration expands the governor’s ability to make financial decisions and mobilize personnel in response to an emergency, including the usage of the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund, a reserve of funds set aside by the West Virginia Legislature that can be used at the governor’s discretion.

Under a state of preparedness, the state similarly prepares emergency response resources to respond to immediate needs, but the governor’s decision-making authority is more restricted.

Morrisey said state agencies are actively working to address emergency needs within Cabell and Kanawha counties and beyond. He said Thursday that crews from the West Virginia Department of Highways are “clearing debris” and “monitoring the flood risks to ensure travel routes remain safe.”

The West Virginia Emergency Management Division is also “working in close coordination with local emergency managers and first responders to engage in the ongoing response,” he said.

In a press release regarding the emergency declaration Thursday, the governor’s office did not note when the status would expire.

“The state of emergency will remain in effect for thirty days unless terminated by the governor,” the press release read.

In the meantime, the governor’s office urged residents to visit the NWS website for their region of residence for up-to-date weather information. Residents can find more information on their regions at the following links:

Northern Panhandle: NWS Pittsburgh forecast office website.
Eastern Panhandle: NWS Baltimore/Washington forecast office website.
Southeast West Virginia: NWS Blacksburg, Va. forecast office website.
All other regions: NWS Charleston forecast office website.

Ice, Flash Flooding Trigger Preparedness Declaration For Entire State

Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued a state of preparedness declaration on Wednesday in response to winter weather and flash flooding.

As flooding and winter storm concerns continue to affect residents across the Mountain State, the governor has placed all 55 counties under a state of preparedness.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared the state of preparedness Wednesday evening. He cited National Weather Service (NWS) reports that a “significant winter storm” was anticipated to bring strong winds and freezing rains to West Virginia, with localized flooding in some regions of the state.

Across West Virginia, cities and towns have reported that flash flooding from the storm has inundated local roadways and closed businesses and schools.

The state of preparedness will remain in effect through Friday, Feb. 7, according to a Wednesday press release from the governor’s office.

Runoff floods portions of U.S. Route 119 in Kanawha County on Thursday morning, causing traffic to build up.

*Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

This marks Morrisey’s first state of preparedness declaration since he took office Jan. 13. As governor, Morrisey is responsible for invoking emergency preparedness declarations to make the public aware of adverse weather conditions and prepare emergency response personnel and resources.

For more information on local weather trends, Morrisey’s office recommended that residents visit the NWS website. Visit the following links for weather updates in your region:

Northern Panhandle: NWS Pittsburgh forecast office website.
Eastern Panhandle: NWS Baltimore/Washington forecast office website.
Southeast West Virginia: NWS Blacksburg, Va. forecast office website.
All other regions: NWS Charleston forecast office website.