WYOMING COUNTY, W.Va. (WOAY) – When heavy rains and flash flooding hit Wyoming County nearly a month ago, the region faced a crisis. In true Appalachian fashion, neighbors, first responders, and dispatchers rose to the occasion.
“It all started as a normal shift. It wasn’t busy until everything came in at once,” said 911 dispatcher Ivory Stewart, recalling the moment when the flood response went from routine to crisis mode.
Unlike some severe weather events that catch communities off guard, Wyoming County’s Emergency Management teams had a plan in place before the waters rose.
“We actually had a pre-planning meeting the day before with first responders across the county… law enforcement, fire, EMS, swift water rescue—everyone came together to coordinate a response,” said Tim Ellison, Wyoming County’s 911 Emergency Services Director.
That preparation made all the difference as calls flooded into the dispatch center, each one carrying urgent pleas for help.
“The [calls] all really just started pretty much at the same time. They all started flowing at the same time,” said 911 dispatcher Emma Blankenship, who worked through the night. “For a while, there wasn’t even time to breathe.”
With roads washed out and neighborhoods cut off, rescuers had to get creative. State police and sheriff’s deputies deployed kayaks to reach stranded residents. Meanwhile, swift water rescue teams traveled from Ripley, West Virginia, to assist in life-saving operations.
“We had state police and deputy sheriffs in kayaks, rescuing people. The swiftwater teams from Ripley did an incredible job. It was a true team effort,” Ellison said.
But it wasn’t just first responders in action. The people of Wyoming County, known for their strong sense of community, jumped into the effort.
“People in the community were out in kayaks, trying to get to their neighbors,” Ivory said. “Even off-duty deputies were walking into flooded areas to get people to higher ground.”
This instinct to help wasn’t limited to that night. Nearly four weeks later, community members are still stepping up, helping clear debris and supporting those whose homes and businesses were damaged.
“All of the debris removal efforts have been a countywide collaboration,” Ellison noted. “From local agencies to volunteers, people have just shown up to help their neighbors.”
Dispatchers Work Through the Storm
While first responders were on the ground, dispatchers were the unseen heroes, working tirelessly to coordinate rescue efforts under extreme pressure. Many worked long shifts with barely any breaks.
“I worked from 3 p.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Sunday… maybe got a break for an hour,” Emma said. “But I wouldn’t change it—helping people is why I’m here.”
Ivory Stewart, who has been with the call center for less than 6 months, worked the evening shift when the flood came, and didn’t leave until she felt her job was done.
“Our shifts are usually from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on evening shift. I think I finally stopped at about three a.m. and went slept for a few hours and continued to work the next day… I was here 24 hours, but I think I was working probably 16 of those hours,” Stewart said. “I was happy to lend a hand in any way I could, no matter how many hours of sleep I got.”
For those who were answering the phones, seeing everyone come together made it worth it.
“It was scary, but it was amazing to see how our troopers handled the situation, how our deputies, every one of us remained calm in that stressful situation. But it was amazing to see us all come together,” Stewart said.
The teamwork and support that they provided the county did not go unnoticed.
“That’s why I started this job, because I wanted to be able to help people in any way that I could, I think that’s what we do every day. We are here to help people,” Blankenship said.
“It meant the world that we could send first responders, cops, troopers to their location to get them as quick as we could, even though it took a few hours to maybe get to their location, we eventually would get to them,” Stewart said.
For Ellison, seeing the dispatch run like a well oiled machine was something he doesn’t take for granted.
“They did exactly what they needed to do. We were here, myself and the deputy director were here for support for them, but they did it like pros,” Ellison said.
The Aftermath and Recovery
Cleanup efforts have been ongoing, with solid waste crews and volunteers working long hours to clear roads and homes of mud and debris.
“They [solid waste crews] picked up all the debris in the county and from the residents who had damage from the flooding. My hat’s off to those guys. Those guys worked 12, 14, 16 hour days and never complained…Why did they do that? Because they care about their own people.” Ellison said.
The county has also worked closely with FEMA, the National Guard, and the Red Cross, ensuring that assistance is available to those who need it most.
Through it all, Wyoming County has shown its resilience.
“It’s the Wyoming County way,” Ellison said. “Neighbors helping neighbors. Friends helping friends. Relatives helping relatives. And when disaster strikes, we pull together.”
