United States – State of Emergency Declared in Nine Counties of West Virginia

A state of emergency has been declared for nine counties in West Virginia as of Jan. 9 following a chemical leak into the Elk River after a hole was discovered in a 48,000 gallon storage tank containing 4-methylcyclohexane methanol at a factory outside the state capital, Charleston. It remains unclear how much of the chemical discharged into the river. Counties currently under the state of emergency include Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, and Roane. State authorities have imposed a water ban and instructed residents in the affected area not to drink, cook, bathe, or wash using tap water supplied by the West Virginia American Water company. Customers of the St. Albans and Cedar Grove Water companies in the area are not affected by the ban. Boiling will not make the water safe for contact, but it can be used in toilets and for fire emergencies.