"A flood devastating parts of north central West Virginia renews calls to address the threat as climate change increases the risk of flooding."
"Last week, a flood devastated portions of north central West Virginia and killed two people in Upshur County. Lawmakers have done little to fund prevention and recovery as climate change puts more of the state at risk of flooding."
"At least two West Virginians are dead, dozens of homes are damaged and communities across north central West Virginia are left picking up the pieces in the wake of another major flood.
Just a decade ago, a massive flood prompted state officials to dive into state coffers for relief money and set up an office dedicated to softening the blow of future floods. But so far, little has been done.
The flood of 2016 affected a wider area of the state and took nearly two dozen lives. Brendan Muckian-Bates, a policy advocate for the Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition, pointed to recent funding for the state’s Flood Resiliency Office as a small step in the right direction toward making strides in reducing the likelihood and impact of flooding.
But he said more needs to done. And more needs to be studied regarding the latest floods in north central West Virginia, particularly around Lewis and Upshur counties, which bore the brunt of the storm."
Henry Culvyhouse reports for the Mountain State Spotlight July 29, 2026.
