Some 40 people are not in Buchanan County, Virginia, Wednesday after a heavy storm ravaged the area, causing heavy rains and flooding, authorities said.
No deaths have been confirmed, officials said at a news conference Wednesday.
Officials said they expect the number of strangers to decrease throughout the day.
The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that 44 people are missing, but stressed that “this does not mean the person is missing, it means we are trying to reach and locate the person and check their well-being “. The figure reflects how many people have been reported to law enforcement by family members who cannot contact them, the office said.
Search and rescue efforts continue, officials said.
Buchanan County is located on the borders of Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.
Four to 6 inches of rain hit the area in a few hours overnight. The damage extends for about 10 miles, officials said, adding that the worst impact was downstream where several streams join.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency.
“I want the Virginians of Buchanan County to know that we are putting all available resources to help those affected by this storm. As we continue to assess the situation, I want to thank our top officials and field staff for providing assistance with our operations. in progress, “he said in a statement.