Wheeling Creek Triadelphia

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.