Flood and storm recovery efforts continue throughout the state following multiple waves of severe weather that included tornados.

On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Delegate David McCormick, R, Monongalia, 82, said he was driving back to Morgantown from Charleston when the storm began. When winds reached about 60 miles per hour and heavy rain limited visibility, he stopped at a convenience store to take cover.

“People were getting out of their cars and coming into the convenience store, and the folks that work at the store got a directive from their manager to open the basement and get everybody in the basement,” McCormick said. “People were bringing their kids and running.”

Senator Chris Rose, R, Monongalia, 2, said damage had been reported throughout his district, with portions of Tyler County suffering heavy damage. Rose said he’ll spend a good portion of the day assessing damage and doing what he can to help constituents.

“Over near Sistersville they got part of that microburst, and we know there is some wind damage over that way and a lot of customers without power,” Rose said. “But, as far as mass flooding, we are pretty fortunate that we didn’t get that.”

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito said she’ll be doing anything she can to assist with expediting any federal help available. She had high praise for the swift water rescue teams and members of the West Virginia National Guard.

“Not just for the person you’re rescuing but for the first responders,” Capito said. “They are well-trained, but with the West Virginia National Guard helping, there is criticality.”

McCormick said he drives I-79 quite a bit and has never seen weather conditions this severe. But, while he was at the convenience store, he said the storm took a turn to the south, and weather conditions improved within minutes.

“It was surreal,” McCormick said. “One of your meteorologists can explain this, but it just took a turn to the south, and it hit our friends and neighbors down in Weston.”

In Monongalia County, a tornado warning was issued south and east of Morgantown at 4:06. That storm continued to the southeast into Preston County, leaving Morgantown, Monongalia County, with no serious damage. The only flooding that was reported in the county was on Route 7 in the Dellslow area that is known to be a flood-prone area.

“The winds were pretty violent at times, and the lightning storm was pretty intense,” Rose said. “I was getting off work around that time and saw that, so we definitely dodged a bullet there; it could have been a lot worse—God had his hand on us.”