Flood damage light; focus is shifting to other rivers

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — The next front for flooding may be along the Ohio River.

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings Tuesday for low-lying areas in Gallia County, Ohio, and Mason County, W.Va., predicting the river could surpass flood stage at Point Pleasant by Thursday morning.

Like rivers across West Virginia, the Ohio has been swelling with rain and snow melt, and authorities urged motorists to turn back if they encounter roads covered by water. The new warning is in effect through Friday afternoon.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Ohio was at 36.2 feet. Flood stage at Point Pleasant is 40 feet, and the forecast called for a crest of 42.5 feet. That compares with a crest of 41.3 feet in March 2008.

Damage from the first 24 hours of flooding across West Virginia appeared to be minor, and some low-lying communities such as Marlinton were already cleaning up.

Water surrounded or entered about 250 structures in Greenbrier County and about 40 in Pocahontas County, said Paul Howard, operations director at the state emergency management office.

But the New River had yet to crest Tuesday afternoon, so emergency officials were monitoring the Kanawha River, which is formed by the New and the Gauley.

The Elk River, which also feeds the Kanawha, and the Coal River around St. Albans were also running high. Howard said that means a lot of water coming into the Kanawha River basin from multiple directions.

Gov. Joe Manchin had declared a state of emergency Monday night for Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Fayette, Summers, Monroe, Nicholas and Webster counties, allowing the state to direct resources to affected areas.