Photo by Eric Ayres Lou Vargo, director of Wheeling-Ohio County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, speaks during a press conference Monday afternoon to update the public about the ongoing search and recovery efforts taking place along areas impacted by last weekend’s deadly flash flood.

WHEELING — Officials on Monday released the names of six victims who lost their lives in the deadly flash flooding in the Triadelphia and Wheeling areas Saturday night.

Officials with the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency, Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, Wheeling Police Department and Wheeling Fire Department held a press conference Monday afternoon to update the public on the recovery effort that continues in full force in the wake of this weekend’s devastating floods.

Identified individuals who died in the flood and who have been recovered so far were: Michael Veronis, 74, of Moundsville; Lisa McMasters, 59, of Triadelphia; Michael Bokanovich, 73, of Triadelphia; Kyleigh Minch Shotton, 26, and her 3-year-old daughter, Parker Shotton, 3, both of Triadelphia; and Travis Creighton, 19, of Triadelphia.

“We ask for your respect and compassion for these families as they grieve,” said Chief Deputy Kent Lewis of the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office. “Out of respect for their privacy, no further details will be released at this time in regards to them.

“The Ohio County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigatory agency regarding these fatalities,” Lewis said. “To my knowledge this is the largest mass casualty event that we’ve had in Ohio County.”

Officials confirmed that the water was moving so fast during the flash flooding, one of the victims that was most recently found was recovered several miles away in the Ohio River near New Martinsville Lock and Dam.

Recovery efforts resumed at 8:30 a.m. Monday, in the Elm Grove, Triadelphia and Valley Grove areas by various fire departments and law enforcement agencies. Crews will be assessing homes, Little Wheeling Creek and Big Wheeling Creek.

Wheeling Fire Chief Jim Blazier said searches of the many damaged homes along the creek banks have been taking place.

“We cleared most of those yesterday,” Blazier said. “One of the things that we did find in some of the homes were some of the pets that people left behind for their safety. We have those pets in the custody of the local animal shelter.”

If you did have a pet that was misplaced, check with the local animal shelters, Blazier said.

“Cleanup efforts are underway, and the amount of traffic that is involved is impeding those efforts,” Blazier said. “If we can avoid driving through these areas, it will expedite the success of the mission.”

Officials urged impacted residents to go online to complete the disaster survey online to help establish the need for relief in this area.

“This will move that relief process through to the federal level,” Blazier said. “Currently, we have less than 100 people who have filled out the survey. We’re encouraging anyone affected by this flooding to please fill out the survey so we can get your numbers counted and move us on to the next level.”

Residents can report flood damage to the West Virginia Emergency Management Division at emd.wv.gov/disastersurvey.

“With the assistance of the American Red Cross and the and the National Guard, we’re going from house to house determining how many houses have been destroyed, how many houses have been severely damaged, and how many have minor damage,” said Lou Vargo, director of Wheeling-Ohio County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

As information is compiled, it will be submitted to the governor’s office and then passed on to the FEMA Region 3 office in Philadelphia. It will then be submitted to the White House for the president to issue a federal disaster declaration.

“The preliminary damage assessment is important,” Vargo said. “We have to get those numbers, we have to get accurate numbers and we have to get them to the president.”

Officials noted that if FEMA assistance becomes available, financial assistance will be made available not only to help pay for public infrastructure damage but also to help provide individual assistance for private property owners impacted by the disaster.

Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwerfeger said that the response from people in the public who are willing to help has been “overwhelming,” and the assistance is appreciated. However, those wishing to help must do so in a coordinated manner with those agencies that are leading the effort.

“When you have folks who are going on their own mission when we’re trying to organize a coordinated response, it does have some adverse impacts,” Schwerfeger said. “We do have three distribution sites.”

Flood supplies and distribution locations at the rear entrance of 25 Armory Drive in Wheeling and at Guntry on 45 Caliber Drive in The Highlands, Triadelphia will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. WesBanco Arena is also a drop off and distribution site. Those impacted by flooding can pick up various supplies — water, cleaning supplies, non-perishable food, paper products, clothes, animal food, etc. — at two locations.

Riesbeck’s parking lot is not a distribution center location.

Appalachian Power is working to restore power to roughly 1,700 homes in the Triadelphia and Valley Grove area. Several utility poles were damaged, as well as a substation. Information on the restoration efforts can be found at AppalachianPower.com.

If anyone has a concern related to the smell of natural gas, residents and business owners are asked to call the Mountaineer Gas emergency line at 800-834-2070.

Tetanus shots will be distributed at two locations and will resume on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. No registration is required. Proof of a West Virginia residency is needed. The health department can be reached at 304-234-3682.

For questions about volunteering, making donations or dropping off supplies, call 304-234-7109.