A front was stretched out east to west near the southern border of West Virginia. A strong mid level disturbance lifted northeast and enhanced the rain after 0100E on Monday the 4th before lifting out around  noon.  The axis of the heaviest rain fell from southern Wayne County on northeast, through western Kanawaha County, southern Roane County, southern Calhoun County, then through Gilmer, Lewis, and Harrison Counties.  The rain totals in this maximum were mostly 2 to 2.9 inches in a 6 to 12 hour period.
Leading up to this episode, the ground was saturated from light but frequent rain. The spring foliage was just in its beginning stages, and not consuming a lot of soil moisture.  As a result, the rain quickly became runoff.
Nuiisance flooding was common, with water ponding on roads in poor drainage areas.  More serious stream flooding occurred along the West Fork of the Little Kanawha River in Calhoun County. Schools were canceled in a few counties.
River flooding resulted along the Little Kanawha River downstream of Burnsville through Glenville to Grantsville.  The West Fork River also flooded as it flowed north through Harrison County.
In June, some of these counties were added to FEMA disaster 1838.  Around 3 dozen home owners applied for assistance.

Heavy Rain in CLAY, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 01:00:00 to 04-MAY-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BOMONT
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flood in GILMER, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 04:00:00 to 05-MAY-09 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: GILMER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Small stream flooding was followed quickly by river flooding.  The Little Kanawha River created around 28.3 feet in Glenville.  Flood stage is 23 feet.  Four homes had water inside in Sand Fork.  The Red Cross opened a shelter in Sand Fork with at least 4 families being housed.  One home had major damage in the county, while 10 others had minor damage.  One business had 4 inches of water on its first floor. In the city of Glenville, a few homes had water in their basements.  The emergency manager said, We've been very lucky with only a few homes and buinesses getting water inside.

Flood in LEWIS, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 05:30:00 to 05-MAY-09 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PICKLE STREET
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Streams overflowed and blocked roads, including John Street in the city of Weston.  The West Fork River remained high into the night.

Flood in HARRISON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 05:30:00 to 05-MAY-09 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ENTERPRISE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Roads were blocked by small streams and then from the swollen West Fork River.  The river crested just of 17 feet at Clarksburg.  Flood stage is 14 feet.  No damage was reported to homes or businesses.

Heavy Rain in HARRISON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 11:18:00 to 04-MAY-09 11:18:00 (EST-5)
Location: SARDIS
Property damage: 7.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A 34 year old woman was killed, when a 70 foot tall tree fell up a slight hill and smashed through the middle of her mobile home.  She was sitting inside watching television.  The freak accident occurred as the heavier rains were diminishing.  The ground was saturated with some soil erosion around the tree. The wind was blowing at about 10 to 20 mph.  Her husband and 2 children were also inside.  Her 6 year old daughter was slightly injured with abrasions on her leg.
Emergency responders were slowed by water over the roads from small streams.  A fire truck became stuck in the water and had to be removed by a large tow truck.

Heavy Rain in TAYLOR, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 06:00:00 to 04-MAY-09 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRAFTON
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Flood in BRAXTON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 03:00:00 to 04-MAY-09 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BURNSVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Small stream flooding blocked roads.  The Little Kanawha River downstream of Burnsville flooded.  However,no homes or business were reported to have been damaged.

Flood in CALHOUN, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 04:00:00 to 05-MAY-09 05:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHLOE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The West Fork of the Little Kanawha River and its feeder streams flooded roads and homes.  Later that day, the main stem of the Little Kanawha River flooded.  The crest at Grantsville was just over 1 foot about flood stage, cresting near 37 feet overnight on May 4th into the 5th. In the county, 2 homes had major damage, while several other homes received minor damage. Three businesses also received damage. The elememtary school in Arnoldsburg  got about 17 to 18 inches of water inside.  School employees moved vulnerable supplies to higher ground before the water spilled inside. One church had a basement classroom damaged.

Heavy Rain in ROANE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 01:00:00 to 04-MAY-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: COTTON
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Heavy Rain in KANAWHA, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 01:00:00 to 04-MAY-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALUM CREEK
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Heavy Rain in WAYNE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 01:00:00 to 04-MAY-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: DUNLOW
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Heavy Rain in LINCOLN, WEST VIRGINIA
From 04-MAY-09 01:00:00 to 04-MAY-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: RANGER
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee