West Virginia Faces Aftermath of Severe Flash Flooding
West Virginia is grappling with the aftermath of severe flash flooding caused by torrential rainfall earlier this week. Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties in the state and mobilized 500 National Guard members to assist with flood-response operations. The most affected areas include Lewis, Pleasants, and Upshur counties, where heavy rainfall, mudslides, and rapidly rising waters have caused significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. In Upshur County alone, 4.5 inches (11 cm) of rain fell in just 37 minutes, leaving parts of the area submerged. As of Thursday morning, over 6,000 residents remain without power, and utility crews are working to restore services. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Charleston has forecasted quiet weather through the end of the workweek, with patchy dense fog at night, but warns of potential showers and thunderstorms returning over the weekend. (Source time: Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:11:46 GMT)