CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) 鈥� Torrential rains caused in West Virginia that inundated homes and businesses, washed out bridges and led to numerous water rescues. The state’s governor said Wednesday that some residents were unaccounted for as search operations continued.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey sent hundreds of National Guard members to the hardest-hit areas in the northern part of the state and declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties Tuesday night. The state Division of Natural Resources has been involved in 85 rescues, he said, and 19 National Guard and state police helicopters were either out on rescue missions or standing by if needed.
Three shelters were opened Wednesday that housed a total of more than 100 residents, the governor said at a news conference.
Asked if anyone was unaccounted for, Morrisey replied: 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have an exact number but we are concerned about fatalities,鈥� adding that 鈥渁s soon as we have more information鈥� officials will provide details.
鈥淭his is a time for West Virginians to come together to do everything possible, not only to pray for all those who are affected, but we鈥檙e going to need a lot of help in the days and weeks ahead,鈥� he said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 help these communities rebuild.鈥�
A news release later sent by the Republican governor鈥檚 office did not mention deaths.
Emails seeking information on any fatalities weren鈥檛 immediately returned by Lars Dalseide, Morrisey鈥檚 communications director; West Virginia Department of Homeland Security spokesman Andy Malinoski; Sgt. 1st Class Ariana Shuemake, the West Virginia National Guard鈥檚 public affairs officer, and the heads of the Lewis and Upshur county offices of emergency management.
Forecasters said up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain fell. Morrisey said some places received 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters) in 37 minutes.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no place for the water to go,鈥� he said.
Video and photos on social media showed submerged vehicles in parking lots, including at a Walmart in Weston where muddy water surged far into the store. Across a nearby highway, a hotel鈥檚 main floor was inundated.
Emergency crews reported dozens of rescues of people stuck in submerged vehicles. However, some rescuers were unable to get to locations where floodwaters had cut off access.
Officials in some communities were still waiting for floodwaters to recede Wednesday before figuring out where the public can drop off donated supplies. Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner said one such place will be West Virginia Wesleyan College.
鈥淭his is heartbreaking,鈥� Skinner said. 鈥淭his is not something you want to see in your hometown. But we will get past it. We will get through it.鈥�
The heavy rains were part of wide-ranging storms 鈥� which also produced reports of tornadoes 鈥� stretching from the Cincinnati area across New Jersey to the New York City suburbs. Damage from a possible tornado was reported in the area of St. Marys and Belmont in West Virginia.
The ground was already saturated after storms dumped more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain throughout the state on Saturday.
Although the rain had cleared out Wednesday, flood warnings remained in several counties for low-lying areas and areas near rivers and creeks. Flood watches were posted for a large swath from eastern Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina.
Emergency service communication channels buzzed with activity late Tuesday night in West Virginia鈥檚 Lewis and Upshur counties, which have about 40,000 residents combined. First responders performed water rescues Tuesday night into Wednesday, Lewis County Commissioner Agnes Quinn Queen said.
鈥淭he devastation across our county is extensive,鈥� she said in a social media post.
Floodwaters forced the closure of portions of Interstate 79, U.S. Route 48 and numerous secondary roads. A sinkhole caused by the storm swallowed a vehicle at a bar in Fayetteville.
Tuesday鈥檚 storms occurred a decade after 23 people died when heavy rains fell for hours over the same areas.
Data from a U.S. Geological Survey water gauge showed one creek tributary, Sand Run, rose to a record level near Buckhannon, topping the mark set during a November 1985 flood event that resulted in 47 deaths statewide.
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Associated Press writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
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