WHEELING — At least one person has died and others remain missing following extreme flooding in southern West Virginia, according to Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

He added that in McDowell County, more than half of the homes remained without power on Monday.

Morrisey was joined by Brigadier Gen. Jim Seward of the West Virginia National Guard at a briefing to state media from the State Emergency Operations Center in Charleston on Monday morning. He noted he planned to tour flooded areas throughout the day.

Morrisey said there has been one confirmed death as a result of the flooding, though information about the deceased isn’t being released until family is notified.

“There are still several people who are missing, and when we learn more information about that we will also let you know,” he said.

Morrisey reported that in terms of weather, it was expected to remain windy and snowy throughout the region on Monday and cold temperatures would persist.

This was especially important as in some areas more than half the homes still are without power, he said. Mingo County still has 58% of its homes without power.

Mingo, McDowell and Mercer counties appear to be the counties most affected, he said.

“West Virginia has seen some significant levels of flooding in the past few days,” Morrisey said. “On Feb. 5, many people know that we issued a state of preparedness for the entire state that actually allows the state to operate and provide all the help it needs to whenever we get requests on a local level.”

A state of emergency was initially issued for 10 counties in West Virginia, but that has since been increased to 13, according to Morrisey.

“I have had conversations with the federal government, in particular with Homeland Security Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has pledged to help, “ he continued. “I was very appreciative to hear that. I know we’re going to be getting good cooperation from the federal government.”

Morrisey added he also has been closely communicating with electrical utility providers.

He noted that as of Monday morning 30,000 homes in affected areas remained without power. Still, on a positive note, service to another 34,000 accounts already had been restored by power workers in the prior 36 hours.

“This is important,” Morrisey explained. “What has been happening is that our folks from the transportation side have been out aggressively cleaning debris in some of the affected areas so that the linemen can get back in and restore power.

“Obviously, it is easier to go and do that in areas after the water recedes. We appreciate that.”

In addition, 38 swift water rescues have happened during the time of the flooding, according to Morrisey.

“We’re going to continue to be available to help those in need,” he said.

The Tug Fork River in McDowell County and the Blue Stone River in Mercer County both have flooded, which is “something we haven’t seen in a very long time,” he continued.

“That means there is damage to a significant number of structures and roads, and significant numbers of evacuations of people to higher elevations,” Morrisey said. “Many streams and rivers are still cresting. We expect there will be additional instances of flooding coming out.”

Morrisey noted that he and his staff members in recent days have been collaborating with local officials to learn needed information on the ground.

He also encouraged residents affected by flooding who could do so to share information at emd.wv.gov/disastersurvey.

“If you go online and you provide information that will make a big difference,” Morrisey said. “Then you are assisting us to better know what is happening on the ground.”

The information results in the best coordination at the state and local level, he explained.

Police dispatch centers and 911 centers in McDowell County have already received more than 700 calls requesting service in the past 36 hours, according to Morrisey. Mingo County also is receiving a high number of calls.

Some roads have been closed, and roadblocks set up to detour traffic, he said.

All five hazard swift water rescue teams operated by the state have been deployed to McDowell County and surrounding counties, Morrisey reported. This includes five vehicles, two boats and one trailer.

A joint operations center in the region has been activated, and the West Virginia State Police and other agencies have drones that are being utilized to search the flooded areas.

There are shelters open in McDowell County at Mount View High School, Houston Methodist Church in Kimball, and at the Reclamation Church in Welch, he added. Schools are being used as shelters in the county, and school buses are being used to bring families to the facilities.

A shelter also has been opened at the Mingo Field House in Williamson.

More than 50,000 bottles of water have been deployed to affected areas, and “more are on the way,” Morrisey said. State officials also are coordinating with the Red Cross and other local charities to help those in need.

State officials also are paying close attention to the freezing temperatures. When more than 50% of residents in an area are without power, this creates added issues that need to be addressed, he said.