PAX -
An entire evening of storms hits Southern West Virginia and a pile of the wet rain is causing creeks and streams to rise. Our 59 News crews visited to some of communities in the biggest danger of flooding
This weather is for the ducks! They seem to be the only ones enjoying the wet weather in Fayette County. The Baxter family tells me living at their Pax riverside home comes at a steep price once rain is in the forecast.
"Days like this can get kind of nasty. I am used to it someone that moved here might be a little concerned, but I know what the limits are," Allen Baxter of Pax said.
Baxter is a father of two and said he enjoys taking the boys fishing for trout when the river is calm. But when the wild weather sets in, Paint Creek becomes a current of rapids instead of a beloved fishing spot. The family said once this calm creek becomes overflowing and full of danger, they have plan to stay ahead of the rising waters.
"If it starts getting in I take the car and park it down by the restaurant and we can usually take it out and get on the turnpike," Baxter continued.
He said back in 2001, Pax was completely turned upside-down by Paint Creek. It rained so hard the creek grew larger and larger taking over many homes in the area. He said everything was damaged inside of his creek-side home. But the family rebuilt and came up with a plan to stay safe.
Just down the street from the Baxter family is the Donell family living in a small town named Weirwood. The folks in Weirwood are already being asked to evacuate their homes for fear of rising water. They said the heavy rainfall has already put a damper on their Wednesday afternoon plans.
"I have college class today and it doesn't look like I will be able to go," Kayla Donell explained. She said she will have to skip class this Wednesday because roads in Weirwood are already being taken over by water.
She explained her brother stayed home from school and her other brother had to skip out on a dentists appointment all because of the flooded roads.
Kayla and her two brothers are trying to venture out-- but after many years of living in a flood prone---the kids have learned to use extreme caution when it comes to ragging water.
"We understand, we've grown up here, so we understand, you cannot go near the water if it is high," Donell said.
She said just like the Baxter family her family also has an escape plan. Her mother's home was also destroyed in the 2001 flood that damaged several areas in Fayette County like Pax and Weirwood.
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