Upshur County Floods Trigger Rescues as Sand Run Crests at Record 10.63 Feet
Updated
Updated · West Virginia MetroNews · Jul 21
Upshur County Floods Trigger Rescues as Sand Run Crests at Record 10.63 Feet
2 articles · Updated · West Virginia MetroNews · Jul 21
Summary
Water rescues that began Tuesday evening were still underway Wednesday morning in Upshur County, where floodwaters kept rising after Sand Run near Buckhannon crested at a record 10.63 feet.
Between 3 and 5 inches of rain fell across parts of central West Virginia, with one observer logging 7 inches in a day and 4 inches in 75 minutes south of Buckhannon.
U.S. Route 33 remained blocked between Weston and Buckhannon, I-79 traffic was rerouted or reduced near Jane Lew, and more than 22,000 Mon Power customers were without electricity as county 911 service went down.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey placed all 55 counties under a state of emergency as flood damage spread from Buckhannon to Weston, where responders reported people trapped in homes, attics and vehicles and at least one washed-out bridge.
The 10.63-foot crest topped Sand Run's previous 8.3-foot record from the 1985 Election Day floods, underscoring the scale of a disaster that officials said was still unfolding.
After years of flood preparation, why was this disaster still so catastrophic for West Virginia?
Can West Virginia's infrastructure be redesigned in time to survive the next 'unprecedented' storm?
Unprecedented Floods Strike Upshur County and Central West Virginia: July 21, 2026 Event Report
Overview
In July 2026, a severe weather system brought days of heavy rainfall to West Virginia, starting with thunderstorms that caused early flooding and infrastructure damage in Barbour County. As the situation intensified, widespread devastation reached multiple counties by July 21. Lewis County was hit especially hard, with extensive flooding damaging public infrastructure and private property. The scale of destruction led officials to declare a local state of emergency, triggering immediate response efforts. This sequence of escalating weather, early impacts, and emergency actions highlights how quickly the disaster unfolded and the urgent need for coordinated recovery.