Bluefield — West Virginia’s governor declared a State of Emergency for Mercer County late Tuesday afternoon following significant damage caused across southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
The powerful storm left widespread destruction in its wake, impacting homes, businesses, and other infrastructure, state officials said. This declaration allows the West Virginia Emergency Management Division to implement the Emergency Operations Plan, allowing swift mobilization of personnel, resources, and essential emergency services.
“We’re still learning about reports of serious damage throughout Mercer County, and the estimates are adding up quickly,” Justice said. “I’m told there’s a sizable portion of the county still without power, and there were so many downed trees that it’s been difficult to get the full scope of what’s happened. This State of Emergency will allow us to speed up the response on the ground and potentially receive federal assistance as we push forward with recovery efforts.”
“This storm is one that we’ll remember in Appalachia for a long, long time,” Justice said. “We’ve seen some really troubling images from our neighboring states, but there’s no question that Helene has left its mark here at home, as well. We’ll continue to pull the rope together and take care of each other, because that’s what we do in West Virginia.”
Mercer County’s State of Emergency will remain in effect for 30 days unless terminated by subsequent proclamation.
Contact Greg Jordan at [email protected]
