Emergency management directors of Harrison, Marion and Monongalia counties met today at the Harrison-Taylor 911 Center in Bridgeport to discuss preparedness activities of the tri-county region.

 

“It is a joint effort between Harrison, Marion and Mon counties getting prepared for Hurricane Florence,” said Director of Harrison County Emergency Management Laura Pysz. “It’s too early to tell how our region would be impacted, but discussions are going on with the National Weather Service, the National Guard, the Red Cross and between the counties as we try to get ahead of it.”

 

As of early-Wednesday afternoon, graphics indicated that the hurricane remnants are moving south of North Central West Virginia and not going to directly hit the immediate area as was originally anticipated, but that could change.

 

“…It doesn’t look like landfall is going to occur until Thursday evening into Friday morning, so there’s still time for the storm to change paths and head more north as they initially indicated it would,” said Jim Smith, director of Monongalia County Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

 

Chris McIntire, director of Marion County Homeland Security and Emergency Management, provided an overview of projected rainfall totals through Sept. 19 in the Harrison, Marion and Monongalia County region.

 

“It shows us in the two- to four-inch range,” he said. “Some predictions at the beginning of the week showed us upwards of seven to 10 inches of rain. Those are cut back right now, but the uncertainty of the storm is the biggest question now.”

 

Stay up to date, Pysz said, by following your county’s social media pages.

 

“That’s a big way we release information to the public,” she said. “If they have emergency notification text messages, sign up for that.”

 

Pysz said being prepared is always in the residents’ best interests and encourages everyone to have a 72-hour kit with basic supplies – food, water, medication, blankets, flashlights and batteries and other items if needed, such as infant formula, diapers and pet food, etc.

 

McIntire shared an online West Virginia flood tool which can be utilized to locate one’s home and see how he or she is likely to be impacted with approaching storm systems. Access that HERE at www.mapwv.gov/flood/

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top are Pysz; Smith and Pysz. McIntire is featured in the video below. Read related story about Governor Jim Justice declaring State of Preparedness and WDTV Meteorologist Jessica Pash sharing details of potential remnants HERE.