"2014 Elk River chemical spill" — Bethany Whisman and Blake Kenney, both of Poca, Putnam County, W.Va., hand out cases of bottled water at Poca High School Jan. 11, 2014, to those affected by the Elk River water contamination. *The West Virginia National Guard was activated to distribute drinking water and assist residents affected by a chemical spill on the Elk River near Charleston.