THE number of people missing after a devastating flood ripped through Virginia Tuesday night and destroyed more than 100 homes has risen to 44, officials said.
Children are among the missing, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office said, but they clarified that people are not at risk but are simply missing at the moment.
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“We currently have 44 people missing due to the flooding that has occurred in the Whitewood area of Buchanan County,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“This number reflects the number of people who have been reported to the police by loved ones and relatives for not being able to contact them.
“This does not mean that the person is missing, it means that we are trying to reach and locate the person and monitor their well-being. At the moment we have no confirmed fatalities.”
The natural disaster left Buchanan County in ruins with locals desperate for missing loved ones.
The flood destroyed telephone service and other ways of contacting people, WDBJ7 reported, making the search for missing persons more difficult.
A Virginia Department of Emergency Management official said search and rescue efforts are being hampered by landslides and poor road conditions, a local reporter said. reported†
“Many roads have been blocked by landslides. Bridges have been washed away. It will take time to restore that access, connect with everyone and ensure their basic needs are met,” said Bill Chrimes, Virginia’s emergency management division. †
Crews with Bedford County’s Special Operations Command are heading to Buchanan County to help with flood damage.
A reunification center has been set up at Twin Valley Elementary in Oakwood, Virginia.
The Virginia Department of Health is on site to provide basic medical screening, WDBJ7 reported.
The American Red Cross also helps with medical care.
Roanoke County Fire and Rescue and the Lynchburg Fire Department have responded to this incident.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency to aid recovery efforts, the AP reported.
“As we continue to assess the situation, I would like to thank our first responders and on-site personnel for helping us with our ongoing operations in Buchanan County,” Youngkin said in a statement.
“As the rescue and recovery continue, please pray with me as we lift our fellow Virginians affected by this tragedy.”
“The situation is currently in the emergency phase,” said United Way Southwest Virginia CEO Travis Staton.
“We are in contact with Buchanan County authorities and will begin providing assistance on the ground as soon as they let us know how and where best to do this.
“First now, the best thing we can do is to stay away from the emergency responders and keep everyone affected by them in our thoughts and prayers.”
Officials say the missing people may not be in immediate danger as they cannot be reached by phone at this time.
However, they are still checking all the misplaced individuals to see if they are okay.
Authorities also said the number of missing people is expected to decrease as rapid water rescue teams continue to investigate the area, an AP reporter said. said†
So far, there have been no confirmed deaths or injuries from the widespread disaster.
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