government
Historic West Virginia flooding washes out roads, knocks out 911 service as rescues continue
Summary by The Waco Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Mary Gilbert, Dakota Smith, Briana Waxman, Andy Rose , KXXV (ABC 25) News
· July 22, 2026
· 6 min read
As Wednesday morning daylight spread over areas of central West Virginia pummeled by storms, local officials are fearful of what may be exposed. Ive never seen anything like this, and Ive lived here for 37 years, Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner told West Virginia MetroNews on Tuesday night. The t...
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Summary created by The Waco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Mary Gilbert, Dakota Smith, Briana Waxman, Andy Rose, KXXV (ABC 25) News Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 22, 2026 Indexed here Jul 22, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Ive never seen anything like this, and Ive lived here for 37 years, Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner told West Virginia MetroNews on Tuesday night.
Why this matters in The Waco
This devastating flooding in West Virginia serves as a stark contrast to Waco's own experiences with severe weather, where timely emergency responses have been crucial in mitigating damage. The situation in West Virginia, where 911 services have been disrupted, highlights the importance of reliable communication infrastructure in emergency situations. In Waco, the city's investment in its emergency management systems has allowed for more effective responses to natural disasters. As Waco residents watch the events unfold in West Virginia, they may be reminded of the potential consequences of severe weather and the need for continued investment in local emergency preparedness. The fact that West Virginia National Guard members are being deployed to assist local emergency crews also underscores the value of having trained personnel and resources in place to respond to disasters. Waco's own emergency management team may be taking note of the strategies being employed in West Virginia to inform their own response plans.
About this story
Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: July 22, 2026 ·
Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News ·
Reading time: 6 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? As Wednesday morning daylight spread over areas of central West Virginia pummeled by storms, local officials are fearful of what may be exposed. Ive never seen anything like this, and Ive lived here for 37 years, Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner told West Virginia MetroNews on Tuesday night. The t...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Mary Gilbert, Dakota Smith, Briana Waxman, Andy Rose at KXXV (ABC 25) News. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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