300 National Guard Troops Sent to Aid West Virginia Flood Victims

by Blaine Metzgar | May 11, 2009 at 09:07 am

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Joe Manchin, the governor of West Virginia, has activated 300 troops from the National Guard to aid victims of the flooding that took place over the weekend. The flooding has closed roads and damaged hundreds of structures in the southern coalfield area of the state.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management spokesman Robert Jelacic said the 300 guardsmen are in addition to the 30 Manchin activated Saturday when he declared a state of emergency for Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Raleigh and Wyoming counties.

As of now, no deaths or injuries have been reported in relation to the flooding. On Sunday seven coal miners who were trapped underground due to the high water were able to walk out of the mine.

The flooded areas were assessed for damage on Sunday, May 10. Various emergency crews, residents, and business owners continue to clean up the damage brought on by the flooding.

heavy downpours produced several inches of rain late Friday and early Saturday. The rain caused mudslides that closed roads, knocked out power and flushed trash, derbies and, in at least one case, a mobile home downstream.

Preliminary damage assessments show Mingo County was the hardest hit by flooding. An estimated 100 structures were destroyed, 500 had major damage and 1,000 had minor damage. Wyoming County had 150 structures with major damage.

The Division of Highways reported several roads were closed.

The storms have been plaguing the midwest, leaving nearly 100,000 customers without electricity in Illinois and Missouri.

The storms were blamed for at least seven deaths in Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Kansas. Governors of Kentucky, West Virginia and Illinois declared emergencies or disasters in several counties.

The National Weather Service predicted a 20% chance of rain from Sunday night into Monday.