Topline
At least 40 people in Buchanan County, Virginia, were unaccounted for on Wednesday, after flooding and heavy rain from a severe storm ripped through the rural area.
Key Facts
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management said it was assisting local crews struggling with flooding and power outages, after severe storms dropped three to seven inches of rain over the past 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service.
Buchanan County Chief Deputy Eric Breeding told local media outlets Wednesday afternoon the rescue efforts were ongoing, while several roads were closed to the public.
Some 2,007 of the 12,233 Appalachian Power Company customers in the county — roughly 100 miles west of Roanoke — were without power as of 3 p.m. ET, according to PowerOutage.us.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) tweeted he was “deeply saddened” by the flooding and that the state will make “every resource available to help those impacted.”
Social media posts in the aftermath of the storm showed homes swept 300 yards from their foundations, vehicles scattered and debris strewn throughout neighborhoods.
Further Reading
Millions Of Texans Could Lose Power In Rolling Blackouts Amid Record Heat (Forbes)
About 40 people unaccounted for due to flooding after severe storm hits Virginia (ABC News)
