"2014 Elk River chemical spill" — U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Roger Hayes, with Joint Force Headquarters, West Virginia National Guard, watches Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's press conference Jan. 12, 2014, at a Putnam County emergency operations center in Winfield, W.Va. *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.