WHEELING, W.Va. — One person is dead and two are missing after heavy rains caused flooding in areas of West Virginia and Kentucky, authorities said.
In West Virginia, Ohio County Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo said a van rolled into a stream that flows into Wheeling Creek on Sunday with two people inside. He says a man was recovered from the floodwater and taken to Wheeling Hospital, where he died.
Vargo told reporters that crews were still searching on Monday for a 19-year-old woman who had been in the van.
Media report floodwaters had washed out sections of the roadway after about 2 inches of rain fell in a short time span, swamping areas of northern West Virginia.
In northeastern Kentucky, crews are searching for man whose mobile home was swept away in floodwaters. Bracken County Judge-Executive Earl Bush said neighbors reported Sunday morning that a mobile home near Bracken Creek was gone. He said crews are searching for its occupant, 82-year-old Delmar Nickoson.
Bracken County Judge-Executive Earl Bush said road and property damage had been reported throughout the county. That included the Augusta boat dock and the 20 vessels stored there, according to City Council Member Jackie Hopkins.
In nearby Mason County, resident Sheila Wheeler says she stepped into rushing water when she got out of bed about 1:30 a.m. Sunday and heard a loud noise as her house began moving. She and her husband stayed put while their home was carried about 200 yards, but then emerged safely and went to check on neighbors. The group spent Sunday trying to salvage what they could.
“We have no flood insurance, but thank God we are OK,” Wheeler said
No deaths or injuries were reported in Maysville, even though Mayor David Cartmell says overflowing creeks took out several bridges and sent several cars floating down roads and waterways.
“It’s devastation,” Cartmell said. “It’s an epic flood for us, we’ve never had anything like this.”
