Charleston, WV – West Virginia is under a statewide State of Emergency after catastrophic flooding swept across central and north‑central counties Tuesday night, triggering water rescues, road closures and historic river crests. “A rare Flash Flood Emergency, labeled a ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation,’ was issued for Lewis, Upshur, and Randolph counties as storms dumped several inches of rain in just hours,” the document says.
Emergency crews in Fayetteville responded after a sinkhole opened at Maggie’s Pub around 9:30 p.m., swallowing a car as heavy storms moved through. No injuries were reported, and city crews worked overnight to stabilize the area.
The Sand Run gauge near Buckhannon surged to 10.63 feet, breaking the 1985 flood record and marking the highest crest in roughly 80 years. Portions of I‑79 and U.S. 33 were shut down due to life‑threatening high water.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey has requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Trump for Boone and Logan counties following separate flooding on June 22–23. Assessments found 186 homes damaged, including 12 destroyed.
Emergency officials statewide are urging residents to avoid flooded roadways as additional storms remain possible.
