As It Was Happening

Kathy Bostic sits on a torn roof Friday afternoon as she looks through a muddied plastic tote full of family photographs that she rescued from her home along Jordan Creek Road in Elkview. The totes were sitting in her house as heavy rainfall and flooding hit the Elkview area on Thursday. “Everything else can be replaced,” Bostic said. “Lives can’t and pictures can’t.” See a video at wvgazettemail.com. Photo Credit: Sam Owens | Gazette-Mail photos

By: Daniel Desrochers | Posted: June 24, 2016 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

Kathy Bostic’s photographs were spread across the roof of her house, which is now where her walkway should have been.

She moved in and out of her house, which had been destroyed by flooding in Jordan Creek, trying to get to her pictures and important papers to see what she could save.

“Everything else can be replaced,” Bostic said. “Lives can’t and pictures can’t.”

After severe flooding devastated all of West Virginia, the state announced Friday that 22 people had died from the weather. But there was no number yet on just how many people have lost everything they owned. (more…)

By: Nathan Takitch, WSAZ News Staff | Posted: June 24, 2016 | Source: WSAZ

UPDATE 6/24/16 @ 11:35 p.m.
CLENDENIN, W.Va. (WSAZ) — Kanawha County Sheriff’s Deputies have opened the exit ramps from Interstate 79 to Clendenin.

Some residents of flood-ravaged Clendenin are making their way out of town Friday night, our crew at the scene reports.

Residents described the whole town as underwater, with floodwaters reaching as high as 34 feet in spots.

Clendenin resident Craig White helped rescue neighbors with a boat, including some nursing home residents.

“We’re just trying to help our neighbors,” White said. “If we don’t watch out for others in the community, who’s going to?” (more…)