West Virginia floods prompt city aid and hospital emergency actions

Severe thunderstorms on July 23 caused rapid, massive flooding in Upshur and Lewis counties, inundating the towns of Buckhannon and Weston. The City of Elkins responded by deploying multiple departments—fire, police, operations, wastewater and water—to assist with rescue and cleanup, sending dump trucks and personnel to the affected areas.

Both St. Joseph’s Hospital and Stonewall Jackson Hospital activated their disaster plans. Power remained on, and backup generators and Starlink antennae ensured communications. No patients needed to be relocated and medical care continued uninterrupted despite floodwater entering parts of the facilities. Hospital leaders John Forester and Joe Second confirmed operations stayed stable while the community began recovery efforts.