CHARLESTON --  The National Weather Service reports rainfall amounts of two and a half to four and a half inches in the areas most heavily impacted in a twelve hour period. Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Jason Franklin, says all of the factors were in place for a so-called "perfect storm."

"It was a classic case of a lot of runoff flooding, small stream flooding. The intense rainfall over a short period of time and the wet ground allowed the stream and the hollows to fill up really quickly. The steep terrain added to the increased rainfall rate and the runoff rate."

Franklin says a weak E F-zero tornado also touched down south of McDowell County just north of Clintwood, Virginia during the same time period.

Governor Manchin declared the region a disaster area and activated the National Guard to assist in the counties.

"It's as devastating as anything I've ever seen. The force coming off these mountains, the amount of rain that fell in such a short period of time. It was like someone turned a dam loose."

The governor says one of his primary objectives is reopening primary transportation routes so critical resources can be delivered to the impacted areas.