West Virginia Declares State of Emergency Amid Catastrophic Flooding
West Virginia has declared a state of emergency following catastrophic flooding caused by over 7 inches of rain, leading to evacuations and dozens of rescues.
Washington, DC, July 22, 2026 —
West Virginia has officially declared a state of emergency in response to catastrophic flooding that has inundated parts of the state. The extreme weather event was triggered by over seven inches of rainfall, leading to widespread evacuations and necessitating dozens of rescue operations.
The heavy rains have caused rivers to swell and overflow their banks, submerging homes and infrastructure across affected areas. Emergency services have been working around the clock to respond to distress calls, evacuating residents from flooded neighborhoods and providing assistance to those displaced by the disaster.
Officials have not yet provided a comprehensive total of affected residents or the full extent of the damage to property and infrastructure. The declaration of a state of emergency allows state resources to be mobilized more effectively to address the immediate crisis, including search and rescue efforts, providing shelter, and beginning damage assessments.
The precise timeline for recovery efforts remains unclear, as the full impact of the flooding is still being evaluated. Further updates on the situation and the response are expected as assessment teams are deployed.
Story summarized from the original created by Tyler.Thrasher@fox.com (Tyler Thrasher) on www.fox5dc.com, see more information here.
