At least 20 people have died from flooding in West Virginia, and officials fear that number will continue to climb. Earlier Friday, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin told a news conference that at least 14 people had died. However, a spokesman for the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security confirmed the high death toll Friday afternon.
“Our focus remains on search and rescue,” Tomblin said, later adding: “It’s been a long 24 hours and the next 24 hours may not be much easier.”
Earlier Friday, Greenbrier County Sheriff Jan Cahill described “complete chaos” in his county, which appeared to be the hardest hit. “Roads destroyed, bridges out, homes burned down, washed off foundations,” he told the Associated Press. “Multiple sections of highway just missing. Pavement just peeled off like a banana. I’ve never seen anything like that.” READ MORE
