US PRESIDENT Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in West Virginia as devastating floods killed at least 26 people including two young boys.The body of four-year-old Edward McMillon was found on Friday after he was swept away outside his home in Ravenswood after heavy rain on Thursday led to rivers and streams overflowing.
Emanuel Williams, eight, also slipped into Wheeling Creek river in Elm Grove and tragically drowned.
West Virginia saw a quarter of its annual rainfall in a single day with up to ten inches of rain on parts of the state in its worst flooding for more than a century.
Hundreds had to be rescued from the floods with dramatic pictures showing residents being helped off roofs, out of attics, and out of trees into rescue boats.
Around 30,000 homes and businesses were left without power and water.
There are still believed to be people missing.On Saturday, Obama agreed to give aid to the worse affected areas for temporary housing and home repairs. A total of 15 deaths struck the tiny town of Rainelle.
Search and rescue teams went house to house, marking those checked with a spray-painted “X” while abandoned pets were taken to a shelter.
Six buses full of people whose homes were either without power or too damaged were evacuated to a church 40 miles away. Rainelle Mayor Andrea Pendleton was distraught as she surveyed her town on Saturday.
“I weep for my people, I weep for the businesses,” she said.
The Greenbrier golf course was forced to cancel its PGA Tour tournament set to take place between July 4 and 10.PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said on Saturday: “Cancelling The Greenbrier Classic is certainly the most prudent course of action as our foremost concern is the well-being of those who are having to live through this tragic situation.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
credit:Associated Press
Emanuel Williams, eight, also slipped into Wheeling Creek river in Elm Grove and tragically drowned.
West Virginia saw a quarter of its annual rainfall in a single day with up to ten inches of rain on parts of the state in its worst flooding for more than a century.
Hundreds had to be rescued from the floods with dramatic pictures showing residents being helped off roofs, out of attics, and out of trees into rescue boats.
Around 30,000 homes and businesses were left without power and water.
There are still believed to be people missing.On Saturday, Obama agreed to give aid to the worse affected areas for temporary housing and home repairs. A total of 15 deaths struck the tiny town of Rainelle.
Search and rescue teams went house to house, marking those checked with a spray-painted “X” while abandoned pets were taken to a shelter.
Six buses full of people whose homes were either without power or too damaged were evacuated to a church 40 miles away. Rainelle Mayor Andrea Pendleton was distraught as she surveyed her town on Saturday.
“I weep for my people, I weep for the businesses,” she said.
The Greenbrier golf course was forced to cancel its PGA Tour tournament set to take place between July 4 and 10.PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said on Saturday: “Cancelling The Greenbrier Classic is certainly the most prudent course of action as our foremost concern is the well-being of those who are having to live through this tragic situation.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
credit:Associated Press
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