Sandra Kay Parsons, Jesse Pearson Obituary, Death – Authorities have identified three additional people who died as a result of the recent flash flooding in northern West Virginia, raising the total number of confirmed fatalities to nine.
One of the victims, 83-year-old Sandra Kay Parsons of Triadelphia, was recovered from the Ohio River on Tuesday. Her identity was confirmed by the Ohio County medical examiner, and officials released her name shortly after the confirmation.
The other two victims, whose identities were released last week, were also residents of the region affected by the floods. They were Jesse Pearson, 43, of Triadelphia, and Connie Veronis, 71, of Moundsville. The majority of those killed in the disaster—seven out of the nine victims—were from the small town of Triadelphia, which has a population of just 660 people.
The deadly flooding struck on June 14, when a sudden downpour dumped as much as four inches (10 centimeters) of rain in less than an hour on parts of Wheeling and Ohio County. The intense rainfall overwhelmed the area’s drainage systems, leading to widespread flash flooding.
Homes, businesses, and roads throughout the area were inundated, and the damage was extensive. Emergency responders were called to rescue residents and assess the damage. At least 75 vehicles were pulled from two creeks in the region, illustrating the scale and severity of the flooding.
In response to the destruction and loss of life, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey issued a state of emergency for Ohio County. The declaration allows for more resources and assistance to be directed to the area as recovery efforts continue.
Triadelphia and nearby Wheeling are located in the northern part of West Virginia, roughly an hour southwest of Pittsburgh. The affected communities are now dealing with the aftermath of the flood, as recovery crews continue to search through the wreckage and assist displaced residents.
Local authorities, along with state emergency management agencies, are working to evaluate the full scope of the damage and determine what support will be needed in the coming weeks. Cleanup and recovery efforts are expected to take time, particularly in smaller towns like Triadelphia, where the impact has been most severe.
As the community grieves the loss of nine lives, officials continue to urge residents to remain cautious and heed any further weather warnings. Investigations into the full effects of the flood are ongoing, and authorities may release more names as identification of additional victims is confirmed.
The tragic events have united the region in mourning and mobilized state resources to aid in rebuilding and support for those affected by this devastating natural disaster.