Trending
BUCKHANNON – Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Friday morning announced the state of Eemergency he declared for all of West Virginia during the July 21 flooding will be extended in 12 counties – including Doddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler and Wetzel.
"West Virginians have made tremendous progress cleaning up and recovering from these storms, but there is still a lot of work ahead in some of our hardest-hit communities," Morrisey said in a press release. "This extension ensures our state and local partners have the flexibility and resources they need to rebuild and recover."
The extension applies to Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Pendleton, Pleasants, Randolph, Ritchie, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur and Wetzel counties, and will remain in effect through Sept. 19 as recovery operations and damage assessments continue in those counties.
The state of emergency for the remaining 43 counties will expire Aug. 20 as scheduled.
Local officials in the affected counties requested the extension, according to Morrisey’s office.
The extension allows state and local agencies to continue coordinating personnel, equipment and other resources necessary to support relief and recovery operations in the affected counties.
Meanwhile, City of Buckhannon and Upshur County officials are informing residents that the West Virginia Conservation Agency and its partner Conservation Districts are focused specifically on stream‑based debris blockages that may worsen flooding or impede natural water flow. Their technicians are deployed statewide to assess flood‑related stream debris and to coordinate assistance where appropriate.
In a joint press release, local officials stress that “Conservation Districts must work directly with the property owner. Technicians cannot enter private property or begin any assessment unless the actual property owner is aware, reachable, and able to grant permission.
"Their mission is limited to stream debris blockages. Conservation Districts evaluate debris within streams, creeks, and natural drainage channels where blockages may create or worsen flooding hazards.
"They cannot clear culverts," the release states. "Culverts, driveway pipes, road‑crossing structures, and other man‑made drainage features fall outside the WVCA's authority. Residents should continue reporting stream debris blockages to their district office, the Tygart's Valley Conservation District" at 304-457-3026.
WVCA technicians will coordinate with property owners to determine whether a blockage meets criteria for assistance and will prioritize locations based on severity and public safety concerns, officials said.
The storms on July 21 caused flooding in several counties, including Upshur County, where two people died. They also spawned at least three tornadoes that crossed the Ohio River from Washington County and traveled into Pleasants, Doddridge and Ritchie counties.