At least 26 people are dead – thousands evacuated with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Many more are still missing – after heavy rains and flooding devastated the state of West Virginia. About 200 National Guardsmen were dispatched across eight counties in the state to assist with search, rescue, and other relief efforts. Gov Tomblin issued a state of emergency in 44 of 54 counties.
Roads are destroyed, bridges out, homes burnt down, and other structures washed off their foundations. Multiple sections of highway are missing, with asphalt pavement peeled back like a banana. According to the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 32,170 homes and businesses in the state are still without power.
Five hundred people were also left stranded in a shopping centre when roadways collapsed. Others had to be rescued from rooftops or, in some cases, trees.
