Emergency declared in West Virginia due to severe flooding

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice on Saturday declared a state of emergency for three counties following heavy rains that caused significant local flooding.

The emergency was declared for Cabell, Putnam and Roane counties.

The severe rainstorm Friday caused flooding and power outages and blocked roads in the three counties, state officials said. More rainstorms are expected in the coming days.

The governor authorized the West Virginia Division of Emergency

Management to support the rain-swamped counties and to use all state resources necessary.

Meanwhile, the body of a West Virginia man who was swept away in floodwaters while operating a farm tractor has been recovered, authorities said.

Cabell County Sheriff Chuck Zerkle said the man was identified as Denver Edmunds, 63, of Milton, media outlets reported.

His body was recovered Friday evening.

Heavy rains Friday led to floodwaters several feet deep. Schools were dismissed early on Friday in Cabell and Wayne counties.

First responders helped guide families out of their homes in some areas.

In North Carolina on Friday, a wall at a distribution center was ripped apart by a severe storm, but none of the 30 workers inside the facility was hurt, an official said.

Orange County Emergency Services Director Kirby Sunders said high winds, possibly a tornado, struck the Gildan Distribution Center in Mebane at 5:18 p.m. Saunders said 30 employees were inside the distribution center when the winds ripped off large chunks of an exterior wall.

Saunders also said the storm caused damage to several natural gas lines.

In all, three buildings were damaged in Mebane, he said.

The weather service also reported half-dollar-sized hail and 60 mph gusts near Raleigh-Durham International Airport just before 4 p.m., but there were no immediate reports of damage.

Lightning strikes also sparked fires at two locations, WNCN reported. One fire was reported just before 4 p.m. at a home in Durham. Lightning caused another fire at a home on the northern edge of Raleigh.

Lightning also damaged a Durham apartment building, officials said.