By Tina Alvey
Register-Herald Reporter
BECKLEY — Emergency officials are reporting moderate flooding of small streams in western Greenbrier County, with the Greenbrier River not expected to crest until 7 p.m. or later Saturday.
U.S. 60 at McRoss and Anjean Road in Rupert were both closed early Saturday morning due to high water, according to Paula Brown, administrative assistant at the Greenbrier County Emergency Management Agency.
She said the worst small stream flooding areas include Rainelle, Rupert, Charmco and Anjean. Although flooding remains likely across the rest of the county, officials expect the biggest impact to occur in the western end, where flash flooding and snow melt have played a major role.
A shelter for those forced from their homes by the water has been set up at the Rainelle Volunteer Fire Department, staffed by the EMA and the American Red Cross.
“Everybody has had plenty of warning,” Brown said, adding the river is rising quickly, going from 9 feet at first report Saturday morning to around 11 feet before noon.
She said a flood crest of 17 feet is expected sometime Saturday evening, which would be about a foot and a half lower than the river got during a relatively minor flood in January.
Some power outages have been reported in Alderson, Clintonville and Renick, but only about 50 customers were affected as of noon Saturday, Brown said.
Sheriff James W. Childers said he has called extra deputies onto duty and was told National Guard members were also on their way to the western end of the county to assist residents.
In Summers County, emergency dispatcher Robbie Bennett said the 911 center had received no reports of flooding Saturday morning.
“We’ve had some rock slides and a few minor problems, but no flooding,” Bennett said.
Billy Cole, maintenance mechanic at Bluestone Lake, said, “Our outflow has increased; we have six gates open, and the Greenbrier (River) is still coming up. But right now, we’re in pretty good shape.”
Likewise, no flooding had been reported as of noon Saturday in Monroe County, according to the 911 center and a Sheriff’s Department spokesman.
