Updated: Nine dead after flash floods devastate Ohio County
Rescue operations are continuing after flash floods ravaged Ohio County late Saturday evening. Nine are confirmed dead at this time.
Updated June 26: The eighth and ninth victims from the June 14 floods have been identified. They are Jesse Pearson, 43, of Triadelphia, and Sandra Parsons, 83, of Triadelphia. Pearson was found last week at the confluence of Big Wheeling Creek and the Ohio River. Parsons was found on Tuesday outside of Clarington, Ohio some 40 miles south of Wheeling.
Updated June 18, 2025 at 10:50 a.m. At a press conference on Wednesday, June 18, authorities confirmed the death of an unidentified male. The death toll from Saturday's flash floods in Ohio County is now eight people. Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo said authorities were originally looking for a missing female. One person remains unaccounted for at this time.
Updated June 17, 2025 at 10:05 a.m. In the evening on June 16, Governor Patrick Morrisey said a body was recovered roughly 40 miles south of Wheeling in New Martinsville. On Tuesday, June 17, authorities identified the decedent as Connie Veronis, 71, of Moundsville, raising the death toll from Saturday’s floods to seven.
The Intelligencer reports one individual remains missing at this time.
Updated June 16, 2025 at 5:48 p.m. Authorities now say six people have died. Victims were identified by the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office during a somber press conference on Monday.
OHIO COUNTY, W. Va. – Governor Patrick Morrisey at a press conference in Wheeling Sunday confirmed four people, including a three-year-old, are dead as a result of a major flash flooding event that occurred Saturday, June 14. A fifth person was confirmed dead by the governor’s office shortly after the press conference concluded.
Overnight and throughout the day on Sunday, the Wheeling Fire Department, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and other agencies utilized drones, UTVs, dive teams and boat rescue teams to conduct nineteen successful swift water rescue missions. Still, as of the time of publication, four people remain missing and these agencies continue their search.
“This is a very difficult time for Ohio County and for West Virginia,” Gov. Morrisey said. “My number one priority, and that of everyone on our team and those in the local community, is to identify the missing individuals.”
How it happened…
The rains came fast and furious just after 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, Penn. issued a flash flood warning around 8:06 p.m. Up to four inches of rain fell within thirty minutes causing streams to quickly jump their banks and inundate roads and neighborhoods.
The city of Wheeling’s Elm Grove and Woodsdale neighborhoods, as well as the town of Triadelphia and the village of Valley Grove appear to be the most heavily affected areas. Several major roadways and bridges remain closed at this time.
“In many respects, this is kind of a unicorn event because a lot of the rain hit very narrow areas,” Gov. Morrisey said Sunday. “There’s a lot of rain that’s hit in a short period of time and we also know that there could be more rain coming soon.”
During his comments, attendees’ phones buzzed with another round of flash flood warnings. More rain is expected in the area over the next few days.
Some members of the community raised concerns Sunday that the warning published by the National Weather Service did not come soon enough. Asked about these concerns during his press conference, Gov. Morrisey said his administration would look into “any issues that arise” and “see if there’s anything that can be done a little bit better.”
The impact of floods…
The governor confirmed five people are dead as a result of Saturday’s flash floods including a three-year-old who is believed to have gone missing with their mother. Several more remain missing at the time of publication.
The village of Valley Grove’s water system saw significant damage as a result of the floods, and at least 2,500 people in the county were without power as of 2:00 p.m. Earlier in the day, the Director of the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency said power outages may stretch for days as natural gas leaks caused by the floods presented a risk in numerous communities.
Numerous roads in the eastern portion of Ohio County were damaged from flooding and will need to be inspected before they are deemed safe. Gov. Morrisey implored people to stay out of the affected areas as this may hamper rescue and recovery operations, or see more people’s lives put in danger.
“Your friends, your neighbors, your first responders and people in the community [are] out working very hard to find people,” Gov. Morrisey said. “That’s our number one task right now, trying to identify anyone who may still be out there. So, we’re asking you, please, don't go out in the affected areas.”
A unified response…
The governor said his administration was working closely with local, state and federal partners as well as utility providers to provide rapid recovery efforts. Gov. Morrisey says he has activated the state’s National Guard and instructed the state Department of Highways to send all available crews to Ohio County to begin clearing debris from roadways. The state Department of Environmental Protection has waived all fees and tonnage limits at the Short Creek landfill to allow for the efficient disposal of flood debris.
A preliminary assessment of the damages will begin Monday, June 16. The governor has asked all those impacted by the floods to fill out a survey to help local and state agencies identify the areas of greatest impact.
The Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling, United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, Ohio Valley Mutual Aid and other organizations are collecting donations for those impacted by the floods, including clean-up supplies (mops, bleach, towels, shovels, etc.), first aid supplies, personal hygiene products, non-perishable food, water, and batteries.
Donated supplies can also be delivered to the unified command center located at the Elm Grove Riesbeck’s Food Market at 2485 National Road, or directly to the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency at 25 Armory Drive.
An overnight shelter has been established at Salvation Army at 140 16th Street. Free tetanus shots will be offered at the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department and at the Elm Grove Riesbeck’s Food Mart.
The Wheeling Police Department has created a dedicated phone line for inquiries about flooding or missing people. Please call (304) 234-7019.
Updated June 16, 2025 at 5:48 p.m. Authorities now say six people have died.
Thank you for sharing these vital resources 🙏 My heart aches.
Are they going to ask FEMA for help?