CHARLESTON, W.Va.
The Latest on flooding that has devastated parts of West Virginia (all times local):
7:25 p.m.
The National Weather Service has confirmed a second tornado in eastern Kentucky during the holiday.
The weather service said Tuesday that an EF-1 tornado touched down near Brodhead in Rockcastle County around 4:30 p.m. on July Fourth. It carried peak winds of 90 mph and a maximum width of 40 yards with a peak length of 0.17 mile.
Several trees were uprooted and cars moved. The weather service said one car was picked up and flipped over. No injuries were reported.
An EF-2 tornado was confirmed earlier in Louisa with maximum winds of 120 mph.
6:35 p.m.
The National Weather Service says storm damage in the northern West Virginia community of Lost Creek in Harrison and Lewis counties was consistent with straight line winds associated with a microburst.
The weather service on Tuesday surveyed storm damage that occurred in the area a day earlier. It said the damage path began about 3 miles northeast of Jackson Mill in Harrison County and extended to the east about 5 miles, crossing into Lewis County and back into Harrison County. The final point was found just east of Interstate 75 about 2 miles southwest of Lost Creek.
Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along the path of the microburst. A barn and two homes were also reported damaged.
The weather service said the damage was consistent with 90 to 100 mph winds.
5:45 p.m.
The National Weather Service says two tornadoes touched down in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky during recent storms.
The weather service confirmed the tornadoes Tuesday after sending a team to look at damage reports from Monday’s thunderstorms.
Meteorologist Michael Charnick in Charleston said an EF-2 tornado with maximum winds of 120 mph touched down near Louisa, Kentucky. The tornado traveled about 2.5 miles.
Authorities said a Wal-Mart store roof sustained damage, several vehicles were overturned and some minor injuries were reported.
Charnick says another tornado was confirmed in the Lincoln County community of Yawkey. The EF-0 twister had winds of 85 mph and traveled two-tenths of a mile.
Another weather service team is surveying storm damage in the northern West Virginia communities of Lost Creek, Jane Lew and Philippi.
4:15 p.m.
An Elkview couple has claimed a $1 million Powerball prize and plans to use some winnings to continue supporting their church’s efforts for area flood victims.
The West Virginia Lottery says in a release that Sam and Barb Ratliff bought their ticket at a store in Beckley and matched five of the six numbers from the June 25 drawing.
The Ratliffs plan to pay off their children’s student loans, take a trip and supplement their retirement.
While they weren’t affected by last month’s devastating flooding, they have worked through Mount Tabor United Methodist Church in Pinch to help feed volunteers assisting with flood-relief efforts. The release says they’ll continue to support the church’s efforts with some of their winnings as well as support Elk River Backpack Blessings , which provides food to needy elementary school students.
3 p.m.
Police in Kanawha County say a Sissonville woman has been arrested on charges that she took several hundred dollars’ worth of items from a disaster relief center despite not being a flood victim.
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Humphreys says 28-year-old Samantha Peck was charged following an interstate traffic stop Friday with obtaining goods under false pretenses. She initially was pulled over for speeding.
Humphreys says in a news release that Peck picked up diapers, food, baby wipes, a small purse, hand tools and other items from a disaster relief center. The release says neither Peck nor her home was affected by flooding last month that ravaged the state.
10:30 a.m.
The National Weather Service has sent two teams to survey storm-damaged areas of West Virginia and eastern Kentucky to determine whether tornadoes occurred.
Meteorologist Maura Casey in Charleston says one team is looking at damage reported from a storm in Kanawha (KUH-naw) and Lincoln counties in West Virginia and in Louisa, Kentucky.
In Louisa, Lawrence County Emergency Management Director Michael Woods says a Walmart store roof sustained damage, several vehicles were overturned and some minor injuries were reported.
WCHS-TV (http://bit.ly/29gwdx3 ) reports a thunderstorm ripped off a church steeple and tore shingles and siding off homes in the Lincoln County community of Yawkey.
Casey says a second storm team is surveying storm damage in the northern West Virginia communities of Lost Creek, Jane Lew and Philippi.
6:30 a.m.
Three people have been arrested for taking donated items while falsely claiming to be flood victims.
Sgt. C.R. Johnson of the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources tells WVVA-TV (http://bit.ly/29v923y ) that a recent anonymous tip led the department to investigate siblings Eric Stone, Diane Stone and Marcia Stone of Rupert.
Johnson says the three suspects live in an upstairs apartment and were not impacted by the flooding. However, he says they took cleaning supplies, bed sheets, pillows and pet food from a Rainelle distribution center.
The three have been charged with obtaining services under false pretenses.
The Greenbrier Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation.
The Associated Press July 5, 2016 7:34 PM
Picture: Allen Bolling
