Kanawha Valley Pounded as Powerful Storms Sweep Through West Virginia
Steven Allen Adams Trending
CHARLESTON -- In images not seen since 2010's derecho wreaked havoc in southern West Virginia, a storm front caused severe damage from Huntington through Charleston Tuesday.
While much of the central part of West Virginia through the Potomac Highlands were under severe thunderstorm warnings Tuesday issued by the Charleston branch of the National Weather Service, parts of Cabell, Wayne, Putnam, and Kanawha counties were under tornado warnings, with emergency alert sirens going off around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning in Charleston.
Nearly 30 minutes later, the city and region were slammed with heavy rain and winds between 70 miles per hour and 90 miles per hour. The storm knocked out power to the city; toppled billboards, utility poles, and trees; blew over metal garages, tore off roofs, and sent bricks tumbling off of downtown buildings. There were also reports of fires in the city caused by downed power lines.
According to a press release Tuesday from the City of Charleston, first responders and city public works crews were out assessing the damage and providing assistance to residents.
"Our teams will work around the clock to ensure safe passage of our roads," Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. "We are working quickly, but safely, so please be patient and report all instances of down trees or powerlines to the City. With more severe weather possible this afternoon, we ask everyone to listen for weather related alerts on the news or on their phone and take necessary steps to stay safe."
Goodwin said her office has reached out to neighboring mayors and the Kanawha County Commission to help provide assistance to communities that were also hit hard by Tuesday's storms.
Gov. Jim Justice had issued a state of preparedness for all 55 counties earlier Tuesday, but in a statement Tuesday afternoon he issued a full state of emergency for Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Nicholas counties.
"We are closely monitoring today's storms and related damage across West Virginia," Justice said in a social media post Tuesday. "We know power lines, trees, and debris are in the roadways, and I urge everyone to proceed with caution. I extend my gratitude to our first responders, who bravely run to the fire when called upon--they are truly heroes. Finally, with the possibility of more weather later today, I urge you to exercise additional caution."