Everyone accounted for in wake of Virginia flooding

There are no confirmed fatalities, officials said.

July 14, 2022, 12:12 PM

Everyone has been accounted for in Buchanan County, Virginia, on Thursday after a severe storm struck the area, bringing heavy rain and flooding, officials said.

At the height of the flooding, 44 people were unaccounted for on Wednesday. Floodwaters are now receding, said authorities in Buchanan County, which sits at the borders of Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.

There are no reports of deaths or injuries, the sheriff's office said.

The flooding came after 4 to 6 inches of rain pounded the area within hours Tuesday night. Some spots reported 3 inches of rain in just 90 minutes. A frontal system stalled over the region, which can produce copious amounts of rain in a very short period of time.

The damage spreads across about 10 miles, officials said, adding that the worst impact was downstream of where several streams join together.

PHOTO: Chairs and pews lie in mud at Baptist Bible Church, July 14, 2022 in Whitewood, Va., following a flash flood.
Chairs and pews lie in mud at Baptist Bible Church, July 14, 2022 in Whitewood, Va., following a flash flood. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts from Tuesday's floodwaters.
Michael Clubb/AP
PHOTO: Houses dislocated during flash floods in the Whitewood community of Buchanan County, Va., July 13, 2022.
Houses dislocated during flash floods in the Whitewood community of Buchanan County, Va., July 13, 2022.
Olivia Bailey/WCYB via AP
PHOTO: A house moved off of its foundation following a flash flood rests on top of a vehicle, July 14, 2022 in Whitewood, Va.
A house moved off of its foundation following a flash flood rests on top of a vehicle, July 14, 2022 in Whitewood, Va.
Michael Clubb/AP

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency.

"I want Virginians in Buchanan County to know that we are making every resource available to help those impacted by this storm. As we continue to assess the situation, I want to thank our first responders and the personnel on the ground for providing assistance with our ongoing operations," he said in a statement.

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