Gov. Patrick Morrisey has extended the state of emergency for 12 counties that were hit hard by the deadly storms and flooding on July 21 and 22.
The state of emergency will be extended through Sept. 12 in Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Lewis, Pendleton, Pleasants, Randolph, Ritchie, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur and Wetzel counties. In the state's remaining 43 counties, the state of emergency will end Aug. 20.
"West Virginians have made tremendous progress cleaning up and recovering from these storms, but there is still a lot of work ahead in some of our hardest-hit communities," Morrisey said in a news release Friday. "This extension ensures our state and local partners have the flexibility and resources they need to rebuild and recover."
Storms on July 21 and 22 brought 9 tornadoes and up to about 7 inches of rain in some areas of the state, leading to flash flooding. Central West Virginia was among the hardest hit. Flooding killed two people in Upshur County.
The federal government has so far approved individual assistance for Ritchie, Pleasants, Upshur and Lewis counties. The assistance will help eligible homeowners and renters with the costs of recovering and rebuilding.
The extension allows state and local agencies to continue coordinating personnel, equipment, and other resources necessary to support relief and recovery operations in the affected counties, Morrisey's office said in the news release.
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