West Virginia braces for rain
ANSTED, W.Va. — More heavy rains are expected in West Virginia, where floodwaters have killed at least 25 people in the past week.
More than 20 counties were under a flash flood watch today. The National Weather Service said downpours were possible in many areas already ravaged by flooding, including Kanawha and Nicholas counties. The forecast also included hardest-hit Greenbrier County, where 17 people have died and floodwaters have yet to recede.
Many residents were still trying to come to grips with ruined property and lost lives before the latest rounds of storms hit.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s administration still believes there are people missing in Greenbrier County, chief of staff Chris Stadelman said.
On Sunday, dozens of residents from flooded-out Rainelle remained at a shelter more than 25 miles away at the Ansted Baptist Church, where singing from inside mixed with the bustle of activity outside.
The church’s gymnasium has been converted into a shelter. The church also is a drop-off point for donated goods as well as a makeshift kennel for dog owners.
For now, it’s home for Jerry Reynolds, his wife, Janice, and his brother, Marcus Reynolds.
Janice Reynolds said she drove back to Rainelle on Saturday to survey the damage. She said her home was destroyed, a vehicle was lost in the floodwaters and the community “smelled like death.”
Jerry Reynolds says the flood was “the worst thing I’ve ever seen.” But as he sat in his car at the shelter, he declared that “we’re survivors. We’ll make it.”
About 18,000 homes and businesses remained without power Sunday. It marked the first day people can apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency aid in Greenbrier, Kanawha and Nicholas counties.
President Barack Obama’s signature Saturday on the federal disaster declaration lets residents in the three counties get aid for temporary housing and home repairs, receive low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and qualify for other assistance.
