State Emergency Operations Center Returns to Enhanced Watch

2/13/2020

CHARLESTON, WV – The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) was activated by Governor Jim Justice on February 12.

This evening, after receiving reports from all counties, the SEOC has returned to Enhanced Watch.

Through the night, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (WVDHSEM) Watch Center will continue to monitor weather, water levels and road closures, assure emergency communications, and manage any requests for resources.

According to the Division of Highways, the following counties have road closures due to high water or mud slides: Cabell, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Marshall, Mercer, Mingo, Putnam, Pleasants, Preston, Tucker, Wayne and Wood.

Please do not attempt to drive through high water, don’t drive around barriers and check road conditions at www.wv511.org.

The National Weather Service (NWS) briefing indicates that going forward, high water levels on tributaries of the Ohio River will affect low lying roads. The Ohio River will not crest until late Friday into Saturday morning, and flooding of those tributaries will linger through the weekend.

Snow showers are expected tonight with a dusting in the lowlands and 1-2 inches in the mountains where gusty winds may cause isolated power outages.

Temperatures fall into the upper teens and twenties overnight, freezing any water that remains on roadways and creating areas of black ice. Cold temperatures will linger into the day on Friday, making travel hazardous.

“We appreciate our partners who respond to the SEOC and extend a special thanks to the local and county emergency management agencies for their work to protect their communities during these weather events,” said WVDHSEM Director Mike Todorovich.

All agencies coordinating emergency response at the SEOC during this event have been released. These agencies include the Office of the Governor, WVDHSEM, WVNG, Intelligence/Fusion Center, and Division of Highways (DOH), along with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), FEMA Region III, and the National Weather Service.

Governor Justice asks all West Virginians to remain aware of weather conditions through local media reports and to follow instructions issued by emergency officials. For updates, follow DHSEM on social media https://www.facebook.com/WVDHSEM/ and https://twitter.com/WVDHSEM.

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For more information, contact the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Public Information Officer Lora Lipscomb at: (304) 558-5380 or email: lora.d.lipscomb@wv.gov or the West Virginia National Guard Public Affairs Office at: (304) 561-6762 or email: holli.r.nelson.mil@mail.mil.

Contact Information

Lora Lipscomb, WVDHSEM Public Information Officer