McDowell County

Parades to honor Veterans Day have become a tradition across the country, and no one has been doing it longer than the people who live in McDowell County.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tuesday said it will commit $2,817,600 to help reduce flood risks throughout the Elkhorn Creek and Tug Fork River Watershed.

The Northfork High School "Blue Demons" were a force to be reckoned with from 1971 to 1984, setting national records including most consecutive state championships. The small coal mining town in McDowell County received national attention. People wore jackets and hats that had the slogan “Northfork West Virginia — Basketball Capital of the United States."

West Virginia has been awarded an additional $15.4 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration as part of the American Rescue Plan. The plan was created to help ease economic impacts from the pandemic.

The Biden Administration is providing technical assistance to two West Virginia counties lacking basic water services.

A State of Emergency has been declared for counties in southern West Virginia. A flood watch will remain in effect through Friday.

McDowell County is now under a State of Emergency. Gov. Jim Justice announced the order Thursday after excessive rainfall caused heavy destruction earlier this week.

First responders in Buchanan County began receiving reports of rising water and damage Tuesday night after a torrential rainstorm in the mountainous area. Several small communities in the Virginia county that borders West Virginia and Kentucky were affected.

Flash flooding washed out roads in McDowell County Tuesday night. The West Virginia Department of Transportation has been working since then to assess the damage to repair the roads.

California based non-profit Dig Deep says there are 2.2 million people in the US who live without running water or a flush toilet in a report called “Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States.”