W.Va. Governor Tomblin declares state of emergency

Marlinton, W.Va. – UPDATE FROM POCAHONTAS COUNTY EMS DIRECTOR SHAWN DUNBRACK
RECEIVED MONDAY 12:13 p.m.

Latest info from National Weather Service-Charleston and WV Div of Homeland Security & Emergency Management:

Gov. Tomblin has declared the entire State of WV under a State of Emergency. This allows the release of specific resources including the WV National Guard.

A WV National Guard Liaison Team has been requested for Pocahontas County but has not yet been approved.

Pocahontas Co remains under a BLIZZARD WARNING. This is due to the rate of snowfall and wind conditions causing visibility issues later tonight.

Heaviest snowfall is expected later tonight after about 8:00PM. Snowshoe area can expect about 4-5 inches of snow today with rapidly increasin

g amounts overnight. The lower elevations may see no more than 4 to 6 inches of snow. With the temperatures hovering right around the freezing mark, this will be a heavy wet snow. Winds today may be 30 to 40MPH. There may be some higher gusts on the mountaintops later tonight.

The WV DOH is coordinating with the National Guard to have extra heavy equipment available to remove snow if needed.

Pocahontas Co EMA continues to coordinate with local fire/EMS squads for their preparedness.

We are also working with the Red Cross to establish locations for emergency shelters should we have extended power outages in the county. If shelters are opened we will release the locations at that time.

Municipal water supplies are all full and should have plenty of capacity for several days.

Stay tuned to local media outlets as well as this site for continuing updates.