Eighth W.Va. flood victim found
An eighth casualty has been confirmed in Saturday’s flash floods in Ohio County, West Virginia, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Wednesday morning.
During a press conference, Morrisey said an unidentified male was found dead. His name will be released once next of kin is notified.
Morrisey added that one person is still presumed missing.
A seventh victim was located Tuesday in Wetzel County near the New Martinsville Lock and Dam and was identified as Connie Veronis, 71, of Moundsville, according to Lou Vargo, director of the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency. Veronis’ husband, Michael Veronis, 74, had already been found and listed among the victims.
Others who died in the floods were Lisa McMasters, 59, Michael Bokanovich, 73, Kyleigh Minch Shotton, 26, and her 3-year-old daughter, Parker Shotton, and Travis Creighton, 19, all of Triadelphia.
Morrisey on Wednesday urged residents with flood damage to fill out assistance damage surveys, and then he will speak to President Donald Trump to push the need for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance for Ohio County. Flood victims can access the survey at emd.wv.gov/disastersurvey.
Samaritan’s Purse, a faith-based humanitarian aid organization, was scheduled to arrive in Ohio County on Wednesday and begin helping residents recover from the weekend floods.
Led by Franklin Graham, son of the Rev. Billy Graham, Samaritan’s Purse travels the globe to crisis areas to provide spiritual and physical aid to those in need. According to the organization’s website, Disaster Relief Unit 3 – a tractor-trailer filled with relief supplies and equipment – is en route to West Virginia. Volunteers will start working in the community starting Thursday, helping homeowners remove waterlogged walls and flooring and salvage personal belongings.
The host church for the response will be Newbridge Church in Wheeling.
A large number of volunteers from other religious organizations are coming to the area next week to assist with repairs and do mold remediation in damaged homes. This will all be free to the public, according to Tony Campbell, assistant director of the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency. West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active In Disaster (VOAD), which assigns volunteers to go where they are needed, is also sending volunteers next week, he added.
Meanwhile, vehicles that had been lodged in water near the bridge at Junior Avenue have been removed, and the span is now open, according to officials
But a strong stench of chemicals and concerns about environmental impact remain.
“The DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) has been working with us, that would be a question for them,” said Assistant Fire Chief Deric Jamison. “We are aware that there are chemicals and spills that have gone into the water.”
That is one of the reasons why the debris can’t be directly taken to the landfill, he continued.
“It has to be separated and properly disposed of,” Jamison said. “The DEP will be actively involved in that.”
The state Department of Natural Resources also will be consulted, added Ohio County Chief Deputy Kent Lewis.
Philip Stahl, public information officer for the city of Wheeling, announced a third location for those needing tetanus shots has been set up at the Valley Grove Fire Department. The shots also are being offered at the Wheeling Ohio-County Health Department at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., and at the emergency operations center set up at the Riesbeck’s parking lot in Elm Grove.