Virginia Flood Update: Authorities Have Found All Missing People in the Aftermath of Severe Flooding

All missing people have been found alive by local authorities following the severe flash flooding due to torrential rain in a rural county of Virginia in recent days, according to the latest developments on Thursday, July 15.

Search and rescue operations took place in Buchanan County after reports emerged that over 40 people went missing after floodwaters swept them and their homes in the rural community.

However, multiple search operations are still ongoing as Virginia authorities attempt to make sure no person is left behind.

The massive operations for the missing persons covered a land area of 30 miles and 400 structures. The initiative involved the state government's usage of six teams as support to the operation.

Member of the public also participated, including those who attempted to reach family members of the missing persons.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency that would support not only the propagation of the recovery efforts, but also allow authorities to impose strict measures and access US government funds in case of natural disasters like the one in the Virginia county.

The recent inclement weather not only tore homes from their foundations but also damaged bridges and roads.

The flash flooding also preceded a forecasted looming "flash drought" across multiple US regions, including the Central and Eastern United States.

Search for Missing People

(Photo : Photo by Mathias Reding via Pexels)

In a news conference on Thursday, Eric Breeding, the sheriff chief deputy of Buchanan County, said crews worked overnight in the flooded areas to help locate the 44 people who went missing after a severe weather inundated the county with heavy rain, as cited by CNN.

Breeding also announced there were no reported fatalities from the impact site involving residents and the missing people previously unaccounted for.

Also Read: Coast Guards Rescue 50 People from Heavy Rain and Floods in the Pacific Northwest

Inclement Weather

The flash flooding was caused by an outburst of six inches of rainfall within a matter of hours in the western Virginia county on Tuesday, July 12, according to CNN Meteorologist Robert Shackelford.

Shackelford added that the fast rainfall concentration in the county also occurred since the area is mountainous, resulting in a lethal runoff.

Local officials initially reported that 44 people were missing but eventually revised the number to 17 before declaring that all of them were found safe, according to The Guardian.

NWS Forecast

The Virginia flooding comes with a combination of extreme heat, severe storms, and flash drought have been reported across the US over the past week.

Still, some of these weather hazards are possible to continue in the same area or shift into a different location.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), monsoon showers and thunderstorms may cause flash flooding across the Southwest US and central-southern parts of the Rocky Mountains.

Meanwhile, hot weather will transpire over Southern California and excessive heat has been forecasted over the Great Plains next week, according to the NWS.