West Virginia flash flooding in Fayette and surrounding area

Heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding across southern West Virginia, specifically impacting Fayette, Nicholas, Kanawha, and Raleigh Counties. Initial reports indicated that rushing water from a creek washed out two private bridges on Cunard Road, leaving some residents without vehicular access. Residents described the flooding as being among the worst seen in decades.

The situation escalated with a reported fatality in Pax. Sheriff Jess McMullen stated that a woman was swept away after her vehicle made a wrong turn into rising floodwaters. Following a search interrupted by weather, a drone unit located her body.

Infrastructure damage has expanded to include damaged roadways on U.S. Route 60 and CSX track washouts. In Charleston, emergency responders conducted water rescues as streets turned into creek beds. Power outages have affected over 12,000 customers, primarily in Kanawha County.

Local authorities are conducting damage assessments to determine eligibility for federal disaster relief. The Fayette County Commission is urging residents to report property damage through official surveys, while the Fayette County Health Department is offering free vaccinations to those exposed to floodwaters. Although a brief period of drier weather is expected mid-week, meteorologists warn that additional rain and thunderstorms could return by Thursday, potentially exacerbating the situation due to already saturated soil.