Two people have died in flash floods caused by torrential rains in West Virginia this week, according to the governor’s office. The state’s communications director for Gov. Patrick Morrisey confirmed the deaths in an emailed statement Wednesday, but did not provide details on the circumstances or identities of the deceased.
These are the first confirmed fatalities from the floods that began Tuesday, following rainfall that forecasters reported reached up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) in some areas. Officials noted that certain locations experienced 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters) of rain in just 37 minutes. The devastation in north-central West Virginia has been described as extensive.
Social media footage depicted submerged vehicles in parking lots, including at a Walmart in Weston where floodwaters entered the store. A nearby hotel’s ground floor was also inundated. Rescuers assisted dozens of individuals who were trapped in flooded vehicles throughout the region, with initial access to some areas being cut off by the rising waters.