W.Va. Gov: Two people dead, one missing after flooding

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WTAP) - Governor Patrick Morrisey says a couple in McDowell County are confirmed dead after severe flooding in southern West Virginia.

The Governor made the announcement at a news conference Tuesday morning in Charleston.

The Governor also confirmed that a firefighter died Monday in McDowell County.

According to a news release from the West Virginia State Fire Marshall’s Office, 54-year-old Jeffrey Lawson died while he was en route to a fire in Jolo, W.Va.

Lawson, who is the Deputy Chief of the War Volunteer Fire Department, became sick on the way to fight the fire when he became sick.

The Governor also says that crews are still searching for one person who has been missing for several days in Welch. He says that officers and K9 units are looking for that person.

In his update, Governor Morrisey says electric crews have restored power to nearly 56,000 residents and that there are just over 8,300 residents still without power. Morrisey says crews are making progress every day to get the power back on for everyone in the affected areas.

The Governor says officials believe there have been more than 60-65 high-water rescues in the flooded areas. He adds a lot of people have helped with those efforts, including the local people on the ground, the West Virginia National Guard and the Department of Natural Resources.

Morrisey says that the Department of Transportation has crews in the hardest hit areas. He says that Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo & Wayne Counties have experienced some road slides and slips in the road and washouts. He also says that Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, and Summers Counties still have high water in their communities.

Morrisey says there are road closures in Cabell, Braxton, Mercer, Mingo, McDowell, Wayne Wyoming, and Greenbrier Counties on some of the major roads. He says people can find those closures on the DOT website.

Morrisey says his office has requested an emergency disaster declaration to make federal assistance available. He says his office has already reached out to President Trump’s administration.

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