According to the West Virginia governor, the death toll from state’s flooding has risen to 14

Mark Bowes, of White Sulphur Springs W. Va., makes his way to the road as he cleans up from severe flooding in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., Friday, June 24, 2016. A deluge of 9 inches of rain on parts of West Virginia destroyed or damaged more than 100 homes and knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The latest on flooding that has devastated parts of West Virginia (all times local):

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2:40 p.m.

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says 14 people have died during unprecedented flooding in the state.

Tomblin made the announcement Friday during a news conference. He says the damage is widespread and devastating. The governor says search and rescue missions are still a top priority.

A storm system dumped 9 inches of rain on parts of West Virginia and trapped 500 people in a shopping center when a bridge washed out. Dozens of other people had to be plucked off rooftops or rescued as waters quickly rose during the deluge.

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1:05 p.m.

Authorities say the bodies of two people have been recovered in the flooding in West Virginia, and they predict the death toll will rise.

Greenbrier County Sheriff Jan Cahill said the bodies of two males were found amid debris near White Sulphur Springs on Friday, bringing the death toll from the floods to seven. The latest victims haven’t yet been identified.

The sheriff is describing “complete chaos” from the flooding. He says roads are destroyed, bridges out, homes have burned down and been washed off their foundations. He says multiple sections of highway are missing and water rescue teams are searching devastated areas.

He adds it’s really hard to navigate around because there’s a ton of debris, and even rescuers have had to be rescued.

RELATED: As if the floodwaters weren’t enough, one family spotted a burning home coasting down the street

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12:45 p.m.

The body of a 4-year-old boy who slipped into a rushing creek during a flood that devastated West Virginia was found Friday morning, raising the flood’s death toll to five.

Bob Bibbee with the Ravenswood Fire Department confirmed the boy was found dead at 11:30 a.m. about a quarter mile from where he fell.
Bibbee said the toddler was outside with his grandfather when he fell into the creek, which usually runs about an ankle deep. Jackson County was pounded with 9 inches of rain in 16 hours and the creek rose to about 6 feet.

The grandfather jumped in after the boy to try to pull him out but the water was rushing too quickly. Neighbors, alerted by the sound of the family’s screams, tried to help save the boy but were also unable to reach him.

Dozens of rescuers from four counties searched until dusk Thursday night and resumed Friday morning.

12:30 p.m.

A man who was one of about 500 people stranded overnight at a shopping mall in West Virginia due to devastating floodwaters says that rescuers used a rope to help him and others down a steep slope behind the center.

Eric Blackshire, who is 48, said Friday that he decided to get a hotel room at the mall on Thursday because a rock slide had blocked his way home to Walton. Then the bridge to the mall washed out during heavy rainfall, stranding people there overnight.

Blackshire described the mood Thursday night as “kind of like a hurricane party,” with lots of beer being drunk.

He said he didn’t know what he was going to do for transportation since his only vehicle was stuck at the shopping center.

RELATED: Serious flooding didn’t stop this driver from plowing his hot $200,000 car right on through

11:45 a.m.
A church pastor says an 8-year-old boy who fell into Big Wheeling Creek during the West Virginia floods was near the water because he wanted to catch crawdads.

Harry Croft, pastor at Marwin Church of the Nazarene at Wheeling, said the boy’s mother told him that she was walking with her son Emanual Williams and daughter when one of the children slipped. The mother grabbed her children but she lost her grip on the boy, known as “Manny.”

Croft says the boy’s body was found about a half-mile from where the family lives. Croft said his congregation was devastated.

The boy’s death was among at least four deaths during the epic flooding in West Virginia. Dozens of people had to be rescued when up to 9 inches of rain fell on parts of the state.

10 a.m.

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Sgt. B.D. Humphreys says rescue crews have begun evacuating an estimated 500 people who were trapped by high water in a shopping center.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s spokesman, Chris Stadelman, said the people were trapped at the Crossings Mall in Elkview after a culvert bridge washed out.

At least four people are confirmed dead after storms with heavy rain rolled into West Virginia early Thursday and continued throughout the day, leaving thousands without power and several roads impassable from high water.

Stadelman said Friday morning that some areas were “devastated” by what appears to be the worst flooding in a century.

9:15 a.m.
A West Virginia official says there are four confirmed fatalities from flooding that has devastated parts of the state.

Chris Stadelman, who is Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s communications director, said Friday morning that three people died in Kanawha County and a fourth died in Wheeling. He didn’t have details and said the numbers don’t include a young boy who crews have been looking for after he was swept away by swift water Thursday in Jackson County.

Storms with heavy rain rolled into West Virginia early Thursday and continued throughout the day leaving thousands without power and several roads impassable from high water.

Stadelman said Friday morning that some areas were “devastated.” He said the hardest hit counties included Greenbrier, Nicholas, Fayette, Kanawha and Webster.

8 a.m.

A West Virginia official says multiple fatalities have been reported in flooding that has devastated parts of the state.

Chris Stadelman, who’s Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s communications director, says some areas are “probably looking at flooding that’s going to be the worst in 100 years.”

At least two fatalities related were reported after storms rolled into West Virginia early Thursday and continued throughout the day leaving thousands without power and several roads impassable.

The fatalities included at least one child and one adult. Wheeling police told The Intelligencer that an 8-year-old boy died after he was swept away by swift water. Brooke Hylbert, Kanawha Metro 911 agency coordinator, told the Charleston Gazette-Mail that a man drowned in Clendenin, but she didn’t have details.

Stadelman said Friday morning that some areas were “devastated.” He said the hardest hit counties included Greenbrier, Nicholas, Fayette, Kanawha and Webster.

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