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CNN Live At Daybreak

One Dead in West Virginia Floods

Aired July 09, 2001 - 07:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We do want to bring you more out of West Virginia. As we told you earlier, one person is dead, as record floods cover parts of the state.

On the phone now is Mark Rigsby. He's an information officer with West Virginia's Office of Emergency Management.

Mark, describe what it's like there this morning.

MARK RIGSBY, INFORMATION OFFICER, WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Well, I can tell you that the state Emergency Operations Center remains active with state agencies and volunteer groups that are conducting the relief efforts.

The water still has not gone down yet. And we won't know exactly what we're dealing with, in terms of damage, until the water goes down and we can conduct our preliminary damage assessments. I can tell you that there is a briefing going on at this moment with all the state agencies and Governor Bob Wise. And they're talking about continuing the rescue and evacuations in Southern West Virginia today.

MCEDWARDS: Yes, so with that water not going down, I mean, what kind of state are people in? Are there people who are still trapped?

RIGSBY: In some isolated areas, there are people that are still isolated from getting out of harms way, going to the safe areas. I can tell you that there are hundreds of people right now displaced from their homes in Southern West Virginia: the hardest-hit county, obviously, Wyoming County. There are 20 Red Cross shelters that are open throughout Southern West Virginia. Hundreds of people are in the shelters right now getting help.

MCEDWARDS: Mark, and how difficult has it been to get to people?

RIGSBY: Well, I can tell you that we have used two National Guard helicopters throughout yesterday and this morning, conducting rooftop rescues. Some people have been stranded on top of their homes because there's just too much water inside their homes that they really can't get out. And those have been very successful.

We have also been notified this morning that four additional helicopters will be coming from Virginia this morning to assist in our evacuations and rescue efforts. MCEDWARDS: This area had some flooding earlier. It's not new for this area. I'm wondering if there can be anything done long term to help mitigate the impact of this kind of rain?

RIGSBY: Well, as you know, the terrain in West Virginia, especially Southern West Virginia, is perfect for flash flooding. And that's the kind of flooding that we have around here. And it's happened for years. And it always will happen. There's not a lot of flatland in West Virginia.

In many of these smaller towns, many people own property right near creeks and streams and rivers. So what we'd like to do, when possible, is try to encourage people to move away from those flood- prone areas. But it's very hard to convince someone or even an entire town to move when they've been there for many, many years. Some people have actually settled in those areas.

MCEDWARDS: Indeed.

Mark Rigsby, thanks very much for the information. Mark Rigsby is a public information officer in the area.

And we, of course, here on CNN will keep you up to date.

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