West Virginia Floods: 23 Dead, Search and Rescue Continues

Heavy rains that pummeled West Virginia left at least 23 people dead, and authorities said Saturday that an unknown number of people in the hardest-hit county remained unaccounted for.

West Virginia State Trooper C.S. Hartman (L) and Bridgeport W.Va. fireman Ryan Moran wade through flooded streets as they search homes in Rainelle, W.Va., on June 25, 2016. Teams were rescuing people from second-story windows, the hoods of cars and the tops of trees as floodwaters drenched southeastern West Virginia. AP Photo/Steve Helber

CHARLESTON, W.Va.—Heavy rains that pummeled West Virginia left at least 23 people dead, and authorities said Saturday that an unknown number of people in the hardest-hit county remained unaccounted for.

Most of the dead and all of the missing, officials believe, were in the county of Greenbrier—home of the renowned golf resort of the same name.

“The reports we got this morning are that Greenbrier County may still have some folks unaccounted for. It does not appear there are unaccounted for people in other counties, but it’s still a somewhat fluid situation,” said Chris Stadelman, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s chief of staff.

Stadelman said there were still “lots of folks in shelters” and that state would apply for federal disaster funds. Scores of homes were damaged.

A vehicle rests in a stream after a heavy rain near White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., on June 24, 2016. Justin Michaels/The Weather Channel via AP