Tygart River Flooding Disrupts Communities In Barbour County

By Marija Ilic

Last week, the Tygart River wreaked havoc in Barbour County, plunging several communities into chaos as it surged past its banks, causing moderate flooding in Belington and Philippi. The aftermath of the flooding left a trail of disruption, from power outages to stranded motorists, and impassable roadways.

In Philippi, the force of the storm was particularly felt when a crucial power line pole succumbed to the rising floodwaters, triggering a widespread blackout in the city. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Wednesday night, plunging the city's residents into darkness. Small section of the southern part of the City got their electric back before midnight, but the rest had to wait till the next day. Despite initial challenges posed by the submerged pole, city employees, aided by the Belington Volunteer Fire Department Water Rescue team, and with the addition of the equipment shipped from out of state in record time, managed to restore power to almost all areas of the City by early Thursday afternoon.

The flooding also impacted transportation infrastructure, with the bridge in Belington forced to close temporarily due to safety concerns. In one incident, a car became submerged in floodwater in the Junior area while attempting to navigate through a flooded road. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries in connection with the incident.

The challenges posed by the flooding underscored the resilience of the community as city employees and emergency responders worked tirelessly to mitigate the impacts.

As the waters recede, the community remains vigilant, knowing that unpredictable weather patterns can bring similar challenges as early as this week, as more heavy rain is heading out this way, and half of the state is already placed on the flood watch.