Wheeling Creek Triadelphia
Who can rescue when the Ohio waters rise and the Wheeling Creek floods and fills homes, foundations gone and homes forever changed
Swept away, homes swept away, mother and daughter, Kyleigh and Parker Grace, swept away,
Reeling from the shock, staggering
Wheeling Creek now a wave rises eight feet high
fills the houses, some moved off foundations
floating and hitting other homes
Young man inside, Travis, “a ray of sunshine” gone,
trying to help mom “swim, swim he cries to her”
She survives- miles down the flooding creek
A mother of “three brothers”, Joni, loses it all in a moment
A Neighbor Brandon wanted to weather the waters, swept away
You don’t know when the flood will sweep you away
Help is near
The “helping in Jesus's name”- lining the way
Far and away the winds came, trees fell, and the storm waters rose
But Love, Limitless, Infinite , The wellspring of love
Recovery, repair;
Questions why and where else can we go
Pressing forward, determined, grateful for Zoe’s life and all that survived the storm
And remembering the lives gone - rays of sunshine forever
Carrying burdens together
This brief life, unexpected turns
Reasons unknown for natural disasters
Encouraged turning to God for comfort, hope, and strength.
Wheeling Creek Triadelphia * Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta
About this poem: Wheeling Creek Triadelphia* (*Greek meaning“Three Brothers”) is a poem about the flooding in Wheeling, West Virginia I’m areas on June 14, 2025. I worked with Samaritans Purse for two days to help in the area June 27 and 28th. The area was devastated but a few trying to rebuild.
The Ohio river filled and neighboring creeks, overflow their banks flooding homes and businesses the first time in many years. Seven of the nine victims were from Triadelphia, population 660.
As much as 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain fell in parts of Wheeling and Ohio County within 40 minutes on June 14. Dozens of homes, businesses and roads were impacted by flooding and at least 75 vehicles were pulled from two area creeks. - Joe Holuta
Ohio County West Virginia Flooding Victims:
- Sandra Kay Parsons: 83, of Triadelphia.
- Jesse Pearson: 43, of Triadelphia.
- Connie Veronis: 71, of Moundsville.
- Michael Veronis: 74, of Moundsville.
- Lisa McMasters: 59, of Triadelphia.
- Michael Bokanovich: 73, of Triadelphia.
- Kyleigh Minch Shotton: 26, of Triadelphia.
- Parker Grace Shotton: 3, of Triadelphia
- Travis Creighton: 19, of Triadelphia.
