Governor Justice declares State of Emergency due to drought conditions

CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — A State of Emergency was declared for all 55 counties in West Virginia by Governor Jim Justice on Friday, July 26, 2024.

The State of Emergency was declared in an attempt to help the farming community in the Mountain State due to extreme, severe, and moderate drought conditions, shown by the U.S. Drought Monitor, which was caused by a lack of rain.

This drought has plagued West Virginia farmers, putting them at risk of losing everything. We cannot and will not stand by and watch our hardworking farmers suffer from this severe lack of rain. We understand the immense stress and hardship this drought has caused. Right now, our Emergency Management Division is working tirelessly to secure disaster assistance for those in need. Until then, we are committed to doing everything we can to support our agricultural community during this challenging time.

Governor Justice

Due to Governor Justice declaring a State of Emergency for all counties in West Virginia, the Emergency Operations Plan was activated.

In addition, Governor Justice also told personnel and resources to prepare to respond to any emergencies, and gave specific administrative powers to the Director of the West Virginia Emergency Management Division to make sure that essential emergency services have what they need.

Unless the State of Emergency is ended early, it will last for 30 days.

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