WHEELING — A woman’s body discovered in the Ohio River late Tuesday near Clarington, Ohio has not yet been identified as the female missing in the June 14 flash flooding in Ohio County, according to West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

Morrisey returned to Wheeling Wednesday to provide an update on flood relief efforts in Ohio County.

It was his fourth visit to the area since the flooding occurred.

“Obviously, this has been a challenging time over the last week and a half,” Morrisey said. “For those who haven’t been up here first hand, it is very hard to fathom just how hard Ohio County was hit.

“I know every death we have to report has weighed very heavily on my mind. At the end of the day we can rebuild roads, we can rebuild homes, but you cannot take back the loss of life.”

Morrisey said while authorities are not ready to release the name, there is “strong suspicion” there is a ninth death resulting from the flood.

Sandra K. Parsons, 83, of Triadelphia still is unaccounted for.

“We will provide more information later,” Morrisey said.

Morrisey Announces $500,000 Available To Flood Victims For Housing

The governor also announced $500,000 is now available to flood victims in Ohio and Marion counties needing housing assistance.

“A lot of people are going to be out of their homes for a very long time,” Morrisey said. “The rebuilding is going to take some time. But it is important that people have housing, and there are opportunities to get the assistance they need.”

Morrisey said the West Virginia Housing Development Fund board has approved his request to make $500,000 available to assist individuals and families losing housing during the flood,

The money could cover any housing-related expenditures incurred by the residents due to the flood, including security deposits, rent costs or other housing expenses.

“It is meant to provide some help,” he said. “I hope that is going to be a boost to help this area. A lot more resources are going to be needed, but with respect to housing we want to make sure we are on top of it.”

The WVHDF is already administering the Emergency Rental Assistance Program with funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The money will be available through September to those affected, Morrisey said.

More information can be found at WVHDF.com.

“I know we can never fully replace a home that was hit by the floods, or the personal items,” Morrisey said. “The lives of everyone have been changed forever.

“But we know that there is strength, resiliency, courage and love in Ohio County, and we want to praise that.”

Blazing Heat Happening During Clean Up Efforts

Those doing flood clean-up are battling blazing hot temperatures this week.

“I’ve talked to the folks in the National Guard, and this is always challenging because people — especially those not in the best of conditions — the heat can have a very negative effect on them,” the governor said.

“I have not heard of many injuries or problems from the heat so far. But we urge people to take care of themselves and be in cool places to the extent that they can to avoid heat stroke. That is certainly very important.”

Ohio County Emergency Management Director Lou Vargo said there haven’t been many heat emergencies during the crisis.

He explained after receiving reports there would be extreme heat in the area, cooling stations were set up at the Salvation Army on 16th Street in East Wheeling and the Civics Building in Elm Grove.

“We have been pushing out fluids — water, Gatorade, electrolytes,” Vargo continued. “We have been advising them to take breaks and cool off and come to these cooling stations… That’s how we responded to it.”

Morrisey Still Pressing For Ohio County FEMA Assistance

Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel have been on the ground assessing damage in Ohio County in preparation for a federal emergency declaration, according to Morrisey. State, county and city governments have already declared a state of emergency locally.

“We know that FEMA has been here, and they are gathering preliminary data assessments,” he said. “We are still talking to people, and we’re going to press as hard as possible. … Ohio County needs more support.”

Vargo said to date, 924 Individual Assistance Damage Surveys have been submitted in Ohio County.

These surveys indicate that at least 34 homes were destroyed during the June 14 flooding.

Morrisey reported the West Virginia National Guard has removed nearly 8,000 tons of debris collectively in Ohio and Marion counties, with 171 personnel deployed to affected areas.