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Rain brings emergency declaration for Calhoun, Roane counties

PARKERSBURG — Water continued to rise Monday afternoon in Calhoun County, where a severe storm in the morning caused flooding.

Homes have been affected and residents evacuated, but how many had yet to be determined by early Monday afternoon, said Kelly Barr, Calhoun County 911 and emergency services director.

“I can’t get in there at this point,” she said.

A storm dropped up to 5 inches of rainfall Monday morning, causing flooding and prompting West Virginia’s governor to declare a state of emergency for Roane, Calhoun, Clay, Braxton and Kanawha counties. The worst areas appear to be in eastern Kanawha County, Gov. Jim Justice said.

Damage assessment teams were en route to Calhoun County Monday, Barr said.

The tributaries of the west fork of the Little Kanawha River flooded, she said. Among bridges washed away were those on Walker Road, Stinson Road and Milo Road, Barr said.

The Upper West Fork Volunteer Fire Department was flooded, Barr said. West Virginia 16 south of Arnoldsburg from Routes 33 and 119 was closed, she said.

A call to the Roane County 911 center was not immediately returned Monday.

Justice on Monday dispatched the National Guard and the Division of Highways to the impacted areas. Also responding are the West Virginia Emergency Management Division, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and local officials to aid residents needing assistance.

“All of our folks are on the scenes,” Justice said during a previously scheduled press briefing on Monday.

Parts of the affected area of the state received from 2 to 5 inches of rainfall, according to radar and rain gauges, the National Weather Service said.

The weather service issued a hazardous weather outlook at about 4:45 a.m. Monday for more than two dozen West Virginia counties including Calhoun, Roane and Gilmer.

A flood warning remained in effect through Monday afternoon for Boone and Kanawha counties, the Weather Service said.

Barr said the storm was a surprise.

A woman was trapped in her car in high water on South Calhoun Highway, but was able to get out and make it to safety, Barr said.

No fatalities have been reported so far, Justice said.

“We hope and pray we don’t lose an individual,” he said.

The Division of Highways has been on flood duty this weekend.

A storm Saturday night and Sunday morning caused flooding in the Chelyan area where the Slaughters and Little creeks went over the banks. Roads, bridges, businesses and homes were damaged, the division said.

“We will have as many people out as necessary to get these roads open,” said Arlie Matney, manager of the Highways Division District 1. “We would ask that people be patient with us. We will have someone there around the clock to make necessary repairs. Be safe traveling in this bad weather.”

Repairs were made to the Little Creek bridge in the Chelyan area where debris and water pressure lifted the timber deck off its steel beams, but the bridge was again under water on Monday, the division said.

Maintenance workers cleared culverts and mudslides on Sunday.

“We had our transportation workers escort people to their homes once roads were open,” said Matney.

The National Guard activated the All-Hazards Swift Water Rescue Team and UH-72 Lakota and UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters. A Lakota helicopter crew was in the air in less than an hour, the National Guard said.

Three damage assessment teams with the All-Hazards Training Team also were activated and will begin to assist local officials with FEMA-required assessments Tuesday, the National Guard said.

The National Guard Joint Operations Center will remain activated until the state of emergency is resolved.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.

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