On June 14, 2025 Ohio County, West Virginia experienced a deadly flash flood. As one of four counties in the state’s northern panhandle, Ohio County is no stranger to flooding. The Ohio River regularly breaches its banks. But this flood, this flood was something different. 

Various sources estimate that between three to five inches of rain fell within thirty minutes over the city of Wheeling and the nearby towns of Valley Grove and Triadelphia. Residents who were home that evening describe seeing a 14 foot wall of water bearing down on their homes as they scrambled to find safety. Tragically, eight people have been confirmed dead and one remains missing as a result of Wheeling Creek barreling through small communities of densely packed houses and small businesses. 

Many of us tuned in to the local police and fire radio calls for hours that Saturday night listening to dramatic rescues. A dad and his four-month old son were pulled safely from a tree. A mom who struggled not to drown as she floated through debris-crowded flood waters crawled out of the creek at a skate park five miles from where she was washed away. 

And we continued to listen in hopes that the dad and infant son rescued from the tree would be reunited with his wife and three-year-old daughter. And for the 19-year old son whose mother survived that terrifying five-mile ride down the creek in the pitch black night. 

Sadly, the mom, her daughter, and the young man were amongst the fatalities. Families ripped apart by a roaring deluge of water. Facts the public wouldn’t know for certain for days. 

The next morning, not long after sun up, the people of the Ohio Valley did what we do best: we put on our mud boots, picked up our shovels, and headed out to help the survivors. It’s the same story that can and has been told all over Appalachia. We take care of our own. 

And nothing can better show the true meaning of that sentiment than the moms of this community. Yes, all hands were on deck, but the women of our community stepped in and stepped in to organize, coordinate, dispatch, and tabulate what needed done, who could do it, and how. 

When my local MomsRising MOMentum group leader, Amy Jo Hutchinson, called out for help filling out Disaster Assessment Surveys, I didn’t hesitate to answer. The data from the forms was used to convince West Virginia governor, Patrick Morrissey, to ask for FEMA assistance. They arrived today, nine days after the flood, to do an initial assessment. 

Our group of 29 women and one man split up into teams to reach the hardest hit flood survivors to ensure they were counted, and much more, of course. When our volunteers arrived with questionnaires in hand, they were often met with people who needed to talk. In training, we learned about trauma-informed practices and the need to just listen. And listen we did. 

In five days, we helped survivors complete and submit over 800 West Virginia Damage Assessment Surveys. 

Ohio County remains at the first stage of disaster recovery. Many residents need their basements mucked out. Twenty-feet tall piles of debris flank historic National Road for miles. And there are more funerals to be held. 

One thing I know for certain is that women will continue helping our friends and neighbors through this crisis. The way moms rise up in times of community need is something to behold. It’s even more powerful to be called to serve with them.