Published: June 18, 2009 11:57 pm      

Heavy rains flood Mineral 911 center with calls

KEYSER, W.Va. — Numerous Mineral County streams and creeks rose quickly a little after midnight Thursday, resulting in 58 calls for assistance in a little more than six hours, according to a dispatcher with the county’s Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security.

At one point, a driver became trapped in a vehicle at the intersection of South Mineral and Chestnut streets in Keyser, but was safely removed from the automobile by members of the Keyser Volunteer Fire Department, the dispatcher said.

Flooded basements and roadways were the most common incidents and took place in a number of areas besides Keyser, including Fountain and New Creek. The action, instigated by a day-long downpour, began at 12:24 a.m. Thursday and the calls continued until 6:33 a.m.