Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV
June 13, 2010
AFTERNOON UPDATE: W.Va. gov declares emergency in 4 counties

Associated Press

CHARLESTON (AP) — Gov. Joe Manchin has declared a state of emergency in four southern West Virginia counties due to flooding after more than 4 inches of rain fell in some areas.

Manchin’s declaration Sunday allows him to direct state resources to Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties.

State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management spokesman T.D. Lively said no deaths were reported. He said state crews were making preliminary damage assessments Sunday afternoon.

The Man area of Logan County was among the hardest hit, including along state Route 44. A woman had to be rescued from her home in Switzer after a mudslide Saturday night, said Sonya Porter, the county’s deputy director of emergency services.

“A lot of debris from the hollows went into the roadway,” Porter said.

Authorities also were responding to homes being threatened by high water in the Madison Creek area, which was accessible only by all-terrain vehicle, Porter said.

She said the Red Cross was attempting to contact homeowners in the county to tend to their needs.

The National Weather Service says 4.82 inches of rain fell at R.D. Bailey Lake in Wyoming County in a 24-hour period ending Sunday morning.

A Wyoming County Office of Emergency Services dispatcher said crews were assessing reports of damaged home foundations and caved-in roads.

Other rainfall amounts include 4.25 inches in Pineville, 3.5 inches in Beckley, and more than 2 inches in Bluefield, Logan and Mullens.

Manchin was expected to visit flood-damaged areas Sunday.

Most of West Virginia is under a flash flood watch through Wednesday evening.