West Virginia's Flooded Future: A Decade of Disaster Fatigue The torrential rains that deluged West Virginia this week, causing flash floods and widespread destruction, have left two people missing and countless others displaced.
The state's governor, Patrick Morrisey, scrambled to deploy National Guard troops and declare a state of emergency. This disaster is not just a sudden event, but a symptom of a broader problem.
Climate change has made West Virginia vulnerable to extreme weather events. The 7 inches of rain that fell in some areas – with 4. 5 inches coming down in just 37 minutes – was a harbinger of this threat.