GILBERT, W.Va. (AP) — The National Guard is helping residents in West Virginia’s southern coalfields recover from weekend flooding that destroyed at least 100 buildings, knocked out power and caused mudslides that flushed trash, debris and at least one mobile home downstream.
Gov. Joe Machin activated 300 Guard troops Sunday on top of the 30 he called up a day before when he declared a state of emergency for five counties, said Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management spokesman Robert Jelacic.
Emergency crews, residents and business owners — some covered in mud — assessed the damage in Gilbert and used shovels to clean up after downpours dumped several inches of rain Friday and Saturday.
