Jun 15, 2025
According to a Sunday evening news release from West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, there are now five people confirmed dead from Saturday’s flash floods. Three remain missing.
3 p.m. update
Authorities have confirmed a fourth death due to Saturday’s flash flooding.
Also, Triadelphia officials said a fire station and rescue truck have both been lost.
12:30 p.m. update
WHEELING – At least three people have been confirmed dead as of Sunday following powerful rains and resulting flooding happening Saturday night in Ohio County.
Ohio County Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo and Wheeling Fire Chief Jim Blazier provided an update on flood rescue and cleanup Sunday morning at the City-County Building in Wheeling.
“Unfortunately, during the rescues last night, we have confirmed there have been three fatalities,” Vargo said. “And we do have (additional) reports of missing persons.”
He reported that beginning at about 8 p.m. Saturday, about 2.5 inches to 4 inches of rain fell into Ohio County neighborhoods over a 30 minute period.
A state of emergency was declared by Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron overnight, and also by Ohio County Commission President Zach Abraham. The move makes it possible for state resources, such as the West Virginia National Guard, to be used for flood-related assistance.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued a state declaration of emergency just prior to the press conference Sunday, and it was expected he might visit Wheeling later in the day.
Some major roadways remain closed in the area. Officials are requesting that people avoid these areas so search and rescue efforts can continue, and clean-up efforts are not impacted:
– US 40/ National Road (Triadelphia to Valley Grove) (Ohio County)
– WV 88/Bethany Pike (At Hamilton Ave) (City of Wheeling)
– GC&P Road (Wheeling & Ohio County)
– Middle Creek Road (Ohio County)
– Warden Run Road (City of Wheeling)
– Shilling Bridge (City of Wheeling)
– Junior Ave Bridge (City of Wheeling)
– Lumbar Ave (City of Wheeling)
– Monument Place Bridge (City of Wheeling)
– US 40 / National Road (Monument Place Bridge to Junior Ave Bridge) (City of Wheeling)
– Dixon Run Road (Ohio County)
– Short Creek Road (Ohio County)
– McGraw’s Run Road-Atkinson Crossing (Ohio County)
– Battle Run Road (Ohio County)
– Point Run Road (Ohio County)
“We’re pleading to everyone to just stay away. It’s an active disaster area,” Vargo said.
Sight-seers could impede both first responders and utility workers in the area, he added.
An emergency shelter for those impacted has been set up at Elm Grove Elementary School, and remained opened Sunday afternoon.
Those with questions should call the Emergency Management Agency at 304-234-3756.
10 a.m. update
Due to heavy rains that resulted in flash flooding, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey has declared a state of emergency in Ohio County.
Rescue and recovery operations began late Saturday night with multiple state agencies responding to requests for assistance. Morrisey ordered personnel and resources to mobilize and respond to any emergency and delegated certain administrative powers to the Director of the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) to facilitate the provision of essential emergency services.
State resources are on the ground assisting local officials with search and rescue, including the Department of Natural Resources and the State Police. The Division of Highways is already clearing roads and debris, and Morrisey has directed the National Guard to provide all necessary assistance.
“Please keep impacted communities in your prayers,” Morrisey said. “More storms are expected in the region today. Please follow all directives from local and state emergency management officials and do not attempt to drive through flooded roads.”
12:30 a.m. update
Those in Ohio County displaced by Saturday’s floods can use Elm Grove Elementary as a shelter, the Wheeling Police Department announced.
Saturday’s flash flooding has caused various roads to be closed (as of 12:30 a.m., Sunday, June 15)
Road Closures — Shilling Bridge, the Lumber Avenue area, Cadillac Avenue, US 40/ National Road in various areas for clean up (Woodsdale, Elm Grove near Dairy Queen, closed at Exit 5 for traffic going to Triadelphia), US 40 / National Rd into Triadelphia and various roads in Triadelphia / Valley Grove
11:30 Update
Shilling Bridge in Elm Grove will be closed until further notice due to the massive amounts of debris that hit it during Saturday night’s floods, according to Wheeling Police and Fire spokesman Philip Stahl.
Wheeling authorities have conducted several water rescues at Overbrook and Lumber Avenue. Stahl said one officer told him the water at Lumber Avenue was up to his chest. There have been reports of people missing due to the floods in parts of Ohio County and Stahl said those people were still be searched for as of 11:15 p.m.
According to the Appalachian Power outage map, there were 3,087 customers without power as of 11:30 p.m., mostly concentrated in the Oglebay area, as well as Valley Grove and Triadelphia.
The path of destruction, Stahl said, went through the Valley Grove and Triadelphia communities along National Road and into the Overbrook area in Elm Grove. Water seemed to have started receding in the Elm Grove area, he added. There has been some concern in the Washington Avenue neighborhood, as water had risen there to 14 feet and had risen three feet in an hour, Stahl said.
Stahl added that he had seen multiple refrigerators, large storage containers, vehicles and boats floating down the creeks.
“The massive amount of debris I’ve seen floating down the creek is something I’ve never seen in my life,” Stahl said.
Original Story
Flash flooding from storms Saturday night have left several roads closed throughout Ohio County, with massive debris sailing down creeks and wedging against bridges.
According to the Wheeling Police and Fire spokesman Philip Stahl, multiple vehicles and a CONEX box may be wedged against the Shilling Bridge in Elm Grove. Wheeling firefighters were at that bridge Saturday night assessing the damage. The Elm Grove Crossing Mall parking lot was mostly underwater.
Authorities were turning vehicles around on National Road at the traffic light by Riesbeck’s in Elm Grove. The Ohio County Emergency Management Agency is calling for a shelter in place for residents along National Road from Valley Grove to Triadelphia due to the flooding.
Stahl said that Long Run exceeded its banks in Woodsdale, leading to flooding along National Road there. There is debris on the roadway in that area — including trees stumps, tree branches and pieces of asphalt, that are hazardous to the traveling public.
The public is asked to avoid W.Va. 88 near Warden Run Road, National Road between W.Va. 88 and the Mount de Chantal exit, National Road between Triadelphia and Valley Grove, and Elm Grove near the Shilling Bridge and Lumber Ave.
Return to theintelligencer.net later for more on this developing story.
Copyright © 2025 Wheeling Newspapers, Inc. | https://www.theintelligencer.net | 1500 Main Street, Wheeling, WV 26003 | 304-233-0100
