Officials said on Thursday that over 40 people are unaccounted for and more than 100 homes have been damaged or destroyed due to severe flooding throughout Western Virginia on Wednesday. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management said that beginning on Tuesday through early Wednesday morning, torrential rain caused flash flooding in Buchanan County, Virginia, as well as widespread power outages and damages to roads and homes.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office said that 44 people, including children, in the Whitewood area were “unaccounted for.” The Sheriff’s office added: “This does not mean the person is missing, it means we are attempting to reach and locate the person and check on their wellbeing.” No fatalities have been confirmed. Officials said search-and-rescue efforts are being made difficult as many roadways are blocked by landslides and approaches to bridges are washed out.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in response to the floods, saying in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to learn that another flood has impacted a community still recovering from last year’s flood. In the wake of the devastation, I want Virginians in Buchanan County to know that we are making every resource available to help those impacted by this storm.”
Additionally in eastern Tennessee, severe thunderstorms prompted the evacuation of more than 400 people from a campground on the Little Pigeon River. No injuries were reported in the Tennessee flooding, but officials said that vehicles and debris from the Greenbrier Campground were washed downstream by floodwaters.
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