This is a live snapshot as of 1:52 AM EDT Monday, September 21. Conditions change fast — always verify with the National Weather Service for your specific county or ZIP code.
Braxton, WV — Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 21 at 1:52AM EDT until September 21 at 6:45AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Issued by NWS Charleston WV. Issue time: 1:52 AM EDT Monday, September 21. Expires: 6:45 AM EDT Monday, September 21.
FFWRLX
The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for…
Northwestern Braxton County in north central West Virginia…
Gilmer County in north central West Virginia…
Southeastern Ritchie County in northwestern West Virginia…
* Until 645 AM EDT.
* At 152 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain
have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.
HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include…
Glenville, Cedar Creek State Park, Sand Fork, Auburn, Cedarville,
Tanner, Normantown, Newberne, Coxs Mills, Troy, Burnt House, Shock
and Exchange.
Hail size (NWS parameters): not specified in parameters. Wind gust (NWS parameters): not specified in parameters.
Locations in the warning path, as listed by NWS:
- Flash Flood Warning for…
- Until 645 AM EDT.
- At 152 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
- Some locations that will experience flash flooding include…
Warned area: Braxton, WV; Gilmer, WV; Ritchie, WV
NWS office page: NWS Charleston WV · Official NWS alert
Official NWS instructions
Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Report flooding to the National Weather Service by calling toll free,
800 401 9535, when you can do so safely.
Stay safe tonight
Turn around, don’t drown. Most flood deaths happen in vehicles — never drive through flooded roadways; six inches of moving water can knock you down, twelve inches can carry a car.
If water enters the home: stay out of standing water where electricity may be present, avoid the basement until water recedes and power is confirmed off, photograph everything before cleanup (documentation matters for insurance), then call a local restoration contractor — water left sitting starts a second wave of damage within a day.
What this means for restoration teams
Translate this warning into job tickets: interior water intrusion through doors, windows, and foundation seepage; saturated carpet and pad; drywall wicking that shows up as a waterline hours later; and mold risk within 24–48 hours wherever porous materials stayed wet. Low-lying areas and urban drainage failures also bring sewage backup calls — the highest-margin, highest-urgency work.
The play: stage extraction and drying equipment now, pre-position dehumidifiers and air movers, keep an on-call rotation through the morning, and capture address, water source, and affected areas on the first call. Field discipline: photo-document before mitigation, moisture-map every affected room, and get the homeowner’s payment responsibility clear in writing before work starts.
FEMA & federal assistance
If the damage is severe, the FEMA Helpline is 1-800-621-3362 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. local, 7 days). Apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or find a recovery center at fema.gov/drc. Basic eligibility: citizenship or qualified status, identity verification, proof of occupancy or ownership, and unmet needs not covered by insurance. Apply as soon as it’s safe.
Looking ahead
When this warning expires, the danger is not automatically over. Creeks and small streams can crest hours after the rain stops, and additional rounds of storms can re-trigger warnings. Watch for NWS updates overnight. For restoration contractors: water-intrusion calls typically start within hours of water receding and keep coming for days as homeowners discover damage behind walls and under flooring.
Sources & how to verify
Verify for your own county or ZIP at weather.gov or your local NWS office page.
This post is for informational purposes and is not an official weather warning. Always follow instructions from local authorities and the National Weather Service.
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