Major General James Seward of the West Virginia National Guard, left, Gov. Patrick Morrisey, Ohio County Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo, and County Commission President Zach Abraham update the public on flood cleanup efforts in Ohio County. (Photo by Joselyn King)

WHEELING — An eighth victim was added Wednesday to the list of fatalities following Saturday’s flooding in Ohio County, and officials say at least one person is still listed as missing.

The eighth casualty found Wednesday was an unidentified male, officials explained. Lou Vargo, director of the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency, indicated search teams had actually been looking for a female and the male found had not been reported as missing.

This leads officials to believe other victims may not have been reported, and additional victims could be found in the following days. Vargo said his office working with other agencies had compiled a list of “credible victims.” These were persons reported by others who saw them struggling in the flood water.

“We all knew that while we had eight (victims), there were likely other people who were never witnessed who were in the water,” Vargo said.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey returned to Ohio County on Wednesday, and began the day with a roundtable meeting with local officials – including the mayors of flood disaster areas Valley Grove and Triadelphia. The intent of the meeting was to discuss the flooding and be proactive about any future flooding that could come, he explained.

An excavator scrapes inches of mud off the sidewalk along Lumber Avenue in Elm Grove following this past Saturday’s flash floods. (Photo by Derek Redd)

“I think the community is in good hands,” Morrisey said. “I think a lot of people have been working closely together, and it has been nice to see.

“We’re all on the same team when we come into the room, and that’s quite refreshing.”

He noted it has been “a difficult time for Ohio County,” and also mentioned flooding in Marion County that resulted in the collapse of an apartment complex there.

Fortunately, no one was killed in the Marion County incident, and all residents of the building have been accounted for, according to Morrisey.

During a press conference at the City-County Building in Wheeling later Wednesday morning, Morrisey reminded residents affected by this week’s flood damage need to fill out assistance damage surveys.

Once surveys are completed, he plans to speak to President Donald Trump to push the need for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance for Ohio County.

Morrisey announced 690 surveys have been submitted so far, but he isn’t certain how long the process will take.

“There’s no timeline right now,” he said. “Right now we’re in the collection mode in terms of the surveys. As soon as we do that, we will be submitting to FEMA.

“We’re going to get the word out on the survey instrument. I know that we’re going to work very fast to get that application in.”

Morrisey added he has talked to people within the Trump administration “to let them know we’re working on it, and it will be coming in.”

“We’ve also been coordinating with our federal delegation, and they know this is happening, as well.” he continued. “We expect to have a united front to get this out.”

Morrisey acknowledged he hasn’t spoken yet on the issue to Trump, with whom he has a good relationship.

“But I’ve talked to a number of senior people, and had a chance to catch up with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.” he said. “She has had some health issues recently, but we have been talking with senior people in the administration.

“I know President Trump cares deeply about West Virginia. He really does. So I’m going to make my best argument to him as to why Ohio County in West Virginia and Marion County… all these areas deserve the help to get our citizens back on the right track.”

Vargo explained there are two types of FEMA assistance. The first is public assistance available to government entities to help them recover expenses spent during flood recovery. The money can be for the repair of infrastructure and roads, or even the cost of diesel fuel used during the event.

The second type of FEMA assistance is for individuals who sustained property loss during the flood. Morrisey, Vargo and other officials urge flood victims to complete the survey that can be accessed at emd.wv.gov/disastersurvey.

Those not having access to technology may call 211 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to report their damage.

“We also have people coming today (Wednesday) who are going out on ATVs to some areas and feeder streets,” Vargo said. “We know Route 40, Valley Grove and Triadelphia were heavily hit. We’re going out there to each of these houses and get these surveys done.”

Tetanus and Hepatitis A shots will continue to be administered by the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department, and no registration is needed. The shots can be obtained Wheeling Ohio-County Health Department office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City-County Building in Wheeling Street; the Riesbeck’s parking lot in Elm Grove from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and at the Valley Grove Fire Department from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those with questions about tetanus shots should contact the health department at 304-234-3682.

Volunteers are also needed throughout the county to do cleanup. Those wishing to volunteer or donate items and supplies should call 304-234-7109.

Residents and businesses are being asked to leave flood-related items at the curbside for crews to remove debris. Only people affected by the flooding are permitted to take items to dump at The Highlands between Cabela’s and Hobby Lobby. This is not open to the general public and only to those impacted by flooding. The hours at the site are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Residents of the affected areas continued their work Wednesday to clean out their damaged homes. Meanwhile, city crews helped by using excavators to scrape mud off sidewalks and water trucks to rinse off streets.

T.J. Parsons, a resident of Lumber Avenue in Elm Grove, walked back and forth from his house to the bank of Wheeling Creek on Wednesday, carrying two buckets of mud from his basement at a time. He was home when the flood waters bulldozed down his street.

“It was pretty terrifying,” he said. “The creek has gotten high a million times and I wasn’t worried. Then, all of a sudden, within like 10 or 20 minutes, it was up to my yard. Then it was up to my house. Then I had six feet of water in my basement, churning things around.”

Parsons considers himself lucky, all things being considered. The water didn’t get into the main part of the house, and while there might have been some sentimental value to the items in the basement, they were just things.

What has impressed him, he said, has been the spirit of community seen from his neighbors and others who have selflessly pitched in to help.

“The community has been amazing,” he said. “I’ve seen people drive past with free supplies and food. Just the offering of help has been amazing. It’s restored my faith in humanity a little bit.”