CALHOUN SPARED STORM PROBLEMS - One Dead, Thousands Without Electric In WV

(11/13/2003)
10 AM - Few problems reported in Calhoun overnight, with water in the West Fork and the Little Kanawha not creating much of a problem.

Heavy winds have uprooted some trees and at least one mudslide was reported on Rt. 16 near Chloe.

A Kanawha County man drowned when he drove around a fire truck warning residents of high water. His body was recovered this morning.

Heavy rains dropped more than four inches of rain in some parts of the state, followed by high winds early today.

Several thousand people are reported without electric in the state.

Clay County Schools were on a two hour delay today, except Ivydale, which is closed.

High waters had at least 92 roads closed in 15 counties around the state this morning, flooded by yesterday's heavy rains.

Division of Highways spokesman C. J. Sadler advised most roads are expected to open later today when waters recede.

Rescue crews used boats and a helicopter to rescue residents trapped by the flood waters.

A West Virginia Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopter was sent from Parkersburg to Lincoln County to evacuate stranded residents.

The access road to the new $30 million consolidated Lincoln High School was covered with flood water.

Shelters were set up around Charleston for flood victims.

Rosa Smith of Griffithsville and two of her neighbors' children were evacuated by helicopter to a Charleston neighborhood center, where nine were taken. Smith says she lost her new truck in the flood.

A major mudslide along Interstate 77 between Marmet and Cheylan left a southbound lane closed through this morning.

South Charleston firefighters used boats in the Davis Creek area to rescue residents.

Schools were closed early yesterday in several regional counties.