Gov. Joe Manchin on Friday expanded the current state of emergency to include six more counties - Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Jefferson, Ritchie and Wirt - and the counties that touch them, after heavy rains earlier this week flooded homes and businesses, sent mudslides over the roads and knocked out power to more than 85,000 houses and businesses.

The original counties declared on Wednesday - Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Taylor and their bordering counties - are still under a state of emergency.

With a possible record heat wave just beginning, more than 6,000 customers statewide still lacked electricity Friday, as temperatures soared past 90 in the areas hardest hit by the flood. Both Appalachian Power and Allegheny Energy expected to have everybody's power back on by noon today.

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Gov. Joe Manchin and West Virginia Adj. Gen. Allen Tackett surveyed road damage on Thursday. Photo by Steven W. Rotsch, Governor’s Office

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But about 40 people were still in shelters in Gilmer and Taylor counties, said Jimmy Gianato, director of the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Gianato did not yet have an estimate of the number of flooded houses and businesses. "We're still getting information, because Glenville was still underwater when we were there yesterday," Gianato said.

The first Red Cross Client Assistance Center will open in Boothsville this morning, said Jack Thompson, spokesman for the Red Cross River Valley chapter that covers northern West Virginia. Boothsville, a community located where Marion, Taylor and Harrison counties meet, was hit particularly hard by the flood.

The Red Cross has been sheltering people, providing money for repairs and measuring the damage, said Sheri McGraw, spokeswoman for the Red Cross's central West Virginia chapter. "Once the damage assessment comes in, we can start providing financial assistance to those folks who may need to relocate or rebuild," she said.

State officials and FEMA will start their own damage assessment at 8 a.m. today, Gianato said. Manchin will use that assessment to decide whether he should ask for a federal disaster declaration, which would activate federal help.

The current state of emergency allows the flooded region to suspend certain rules, said Matt Turner, Manchin's press secretary. "For example, if they need to purchase cases of water, they wouldn't necessarily have to go through the standard bid process," Turner said. No state money has been directed toward the disaster yet, he said, but Manchin has sent the National Guard to help clean up.

People can haul their debris to the side of the road, Gianato said, and the National Guard will start picking it up today.

To contact staff writer Tara Tuckwiller, use e-mail or call 348-5189.

Report damage

Flood victims are urged to report flood damage or losses to local emergency officials. To find out who to contact, call the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security at 558-5380 or visit wvdhsem.gov and click on "County Emergency Contacts" at left.

Gov. Joe Manchin on Friday expanded the current state of emergency to include six more counties - Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Jefferson, Ritchie and Wirt - and the counties that touch them, after heavy rains earlier this week flooded homes and businesses, sent mudslides over the roads and knocked out power to more than 85,000 houses and businesses.

The original counties declared on Wednesday - Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Taylor and their bordering counties - are still under a state of emergency.

With a possible record heat wave just beginning, more than 6,000 customers statewide still lacked electricity Friday, as temperatures soared past 90 in the areas hardest hit by the flood. Both Appalachian Power and Allegheny Energy expected to have everybody's power back on by noon today.

All of the waters had receded by Friday, according to the National Weather Service. All primary roads were open, according to the state highway department.

But about 40 people were still in shelters in Gilmer and Taylor counties, said Jimmy Gianato, director of the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Gianato did not yet have an estimate of the number of flooded houses and businesses. "We're still getting information, because Glenville was still underwater when we were there yesterday," Gianato said.

The first Red Cross Client Assistance Center will open in Boothsville this morning, said Jack Thompson, spokesman for the Red Cross River Valley chapter that covers northern West Virginia. Boothsville, a community located where Marion, Taylor and Harrison counties meet, was hit particularly hard by the flood.

The Red Cross has been sheltering people, providing money for repairs and measuring the damage, said Sheri McGraw, spokeswoman for the Red Cross's central West Virginia chapter. "Once the damage assessment comes in, we can start providing financial assistance to those folks who may need to relocate or rebuild," she said.

State officials and FEMA will start their own damage assessment at 8 a.m. today, Gianato said. Manchin will use that assessment to decide whether he should ask for a federal disaster declaration, which would activate federal help.

The current state of emergency allows the flooded region to suspend certain rules, said Matt Turner, Manchin's press secretary. "For example, if they need to purchase cases of water, they wouldn't necessarily have to go through the standard bid process," Turner said. No state money has been directed toward the disaster yet, he said, but Manchin has sent the National Guard to help clean up.

People can haul their debris to the side of the road, Gianato said, and the National Guard will start picking it up today.

To contact staff writer Tara Tuckwiller, use e-mail or call 348-5189.

Report damage

Flood victims are urged to report flood damage or losses to local emergency officials. To find out who to contact, call the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security at 558-5380 or visit wvdhsem.gov and click on "County Emergency Contacts" at left.