West Virginia Flooding Emergency

PUBLISHED Aug 21, 2026, 8:02 AM ET

Governor Patrick Morrisey declared a State of Emergency for all 55 West Virginia counties on Tuesday after severe storms brought excessive rainfall, flash flooding, and mudslides across the state from August 16 to August 18 . The slow-moving storm systems dumped near-record rainfall in several areas within hours, causing significant damage to homes, businesses, public infrastructure, and essential services . The declaration remains in effect for 30 days unless terminated earlier . This new emergency is separate from a prior State of Emergency declared for storms beginning July 21, which was recently extended through September 19 for 12 counties still recovering . Governor Morrisey stated that the declaration provides emergency responders and agencies the flexibility to coordinate resources and support recovery efforts . Emergency crews continue working alongside local and federal partners to assess damage .

By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 17
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 17

Explain Framing

Left: Coverage emphasizes climate change links and need for stronger federal prevention. Center: Reporting focuses on official declarations, damage assessments, and response coordination. Right: Coverage highlights state resilience, federal aid approval, and local leadership.