Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Wednesday to assist with response and recovery efforts in the wake of heavy rainfall and severe flooding.
Officials estimated that 44 people are missing and more than 100 homes have been damaged due to severe thunderstorms and heavy rains in Buchanan County.
The severe weather began hitting parts of the southwest region on Tuesday and continued into the early morning hours of Wednesday. Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding, along with power outages, landslides, damage to roads and other infrastructure, and challenges for emergency operations.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management said blocked and washed-out roads and bridges were hampering rescue and recovery efforts, including efforts to contact people in need.
The National Weather Service said rainfall could continue through Friday in the area.
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