Point Park in Parkersburg is seen in this image captured Thursday morning by a drone. (Photo provided by Gabriel Richmond)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission declared a state of emergency throughout the county Thursday as the Ohio River rose and other local waterways were affected.

The commission unanimously passed an emergency proclamation during its regular Thursday meeting.

Wood County 911 Director Mike Shook appeared before the commission at around 10 a.m. Thursday where he informed officials they were about 3 feet from the Ohio River cresting and there were a number of roads throughout the area that were unable to be crossed.

The National Weather Service in Charleston reported the Ohio River was expected to crest at 40.4 feet around 2 a.m. today for the Parkersburg area. Flood stage is 36 feet.

“The best thing is this has been a gradual rise,” Shook said. “People have seen it coming and have ample time to take advantage of it to prepare.”

The intersection of West Virginia 14 and Dodge Avenue in Williamstown Thursday morning. (Photo by Art Smith)

Shook asked the commission to pass the proclamation to have the ability to line up resources from the state when the time comes.

On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Jim Justice amended West Virginia’s State of Emergency “to include Barbour, Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Wetzel, and Wood counties because of flooding and ongoing storm-related threats.”

The state of emergency was issued after severe thunderstorms caused flooding, downed trees, power outages and road blockages this week.

“The State of Emergency declaration is a proactive measure ensuring the allocation of necessary resources and expediting emergency response efforts,” according to a press release from the governor’s office. “It allows state and local agencies to take swift and decisive actions to mitigate the impact of dangers in an effort to protect the lives and property of West Virginians.”

Justice also issued a State of Preparedness for all 55 counties on Tuesday, which is still in effect.

Flood waters had West Virginia 14 near Williamstown closed Thursday morning. (Photo by Art Smith)

Wood County’s emergency proclamation states “Wood County, West Virginia has been or is immediately threatened by a natural hazard.”

The proclamation allows the commission to exercise “the necessary emergency authority for protection of the lives and property of the people of Wood County and the restoration of local government with a minimum of interruption.”

“All public offices and employees of Wood County are hereby directed to exercise the utmost diligence in the discharge of duties required by them for the duration of the emergency and in execution of emergency laws, regulations, and directives,” the proclamation said. “All citizens are called upon and directed to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperate with public officials and emergency management forces in executing emergency operations plans and to obey and comply with the lawful direction of properly-identified officers.”

Shook said the proclamation allows the county to request resources from the state.

There may be a need for cleaning supplies once the water goes down, he said, adding he has been in contact with local Lions Clubs who are offering assistance with some cleaning supplies.

A set of stairs floats down the Ohio River near Williamstown late Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Art Smith)

“We might be reaching out to them before we reach out to the state,” he said.

Shook said they have not received any requests for cleaning supplies as of Thursday morning.

“Once the water goes down, that will start,” he said.

Shook told the commission that the Happy Valley area was cut off. Although there has been an effort by federal officials to buy homes in that area, there are still a number of occupied homes in the area.

“Happy Valley is cut off from the rest of the world,” he said.

A sternwheel that is part of a static display at the Williamstown boat ramp was nearly covered by the flooded Ohio River Thursday morning. (Photo by Art Smith)

The remaining houses down there that he could see are still well above the water, Shook said Thursday. He estimated there were still around 20 homes around there.

Officials also said portions of 36th Street and Core Road were closed due to high water. Officials also reported portions of W.Va. Route 14 in Williamstown were closed Thursday.

“There are plenty of roads closed,” Shook said.

A list of all the closed roads in the area was not immediately available.

Williamstown Police Chief Shawn Graham said they had high water in parts of Williamstown.

W.Va. Route 14 was closed at Henderson Avenue to Highland Avenue with traffic being detoured on to Henderson Avenue.

“Part of it is underwater,” Graham said of W.Va. 14.

They have also had water on parts of Dodge Avenue on the river side which closed that road too.

Graham said a lot of the affected roads make up the main routes people usually take through town.

With the river cresting early this morning, Shook is expecting that to affect more people.

“Then we are anticipating it to drop and seeing what it leaves behind,” he said.

The American Red Cross had opened a shelter in Williamstown at the Methodist Church on West Fifth Street in anticipation of people who might be in need from Washington County.

“They were trying to be proactive,” Shook said. “They did not get anybody overnight so they closed it at 6 a.m. (Thursday).

“I couldn’t get them to wait for the crest.”

If needed, they can request the shelter reopen, he added.

Wood County Schools put out an advisory Thursday morning saying buses may be delayed due to high water in several areas across the county.

Wood County Schools Spokesperson Michael Erb said there were sections of the county where buses have had to be rerouted due to high water.

“In some cases we’ve contacted families to arrange alternative pick-up and drop-off locations if it is an area where a bus cannot safely go but an automobile can still get in and out,” he said. “We’ve had a few situations where flooding has made it impossible for families to meet the buses, and in those instances they are treated as excused absences.”

School officials have been monitoring routes and periodically driving those routes during the day and in the early morning hours to make sure they are accessible.

“There is no plan to delay or close schools at this time and we’ve not had any flooding-related issues with our facilities,” Erb said.

Shook said he has been in contact with the West Virginia Office of Emergency Management. They have placed a QR code on the Wood County WV 911 page that will allow people to fill out necessary information with the Federal Emergency Management Agency when people begin to assess any damage to their homes and property.

“It will help speed up the process,” he said. “It is an ongoing process. It is not something they have to jump right on immediately (they can begin to assess damage and start the clean-up first).”

Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard said a program a number of years ago that cleaned out creek beds and other places prone to flooding has continued to help control places where high water has backed up in the past.

Shook said that program no longer exists, but he hopes it can be brought back at some point because he has been in contact with people who could benefit from it.

Woodyard is advising people to be aware and be vigilant and stay up-to-date on changing weather conditions.

“We still have people insisting on driving into high waters,” he said. “They are having issues.”

The National Weather Service reports that six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles and pick-ups, according to the weather service.

“Follow the old saying, `turn around, don’t drown,'” Woodyard said. “Stay out of the high water.”

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com