CHARLESTON, WV — Torrential rains caused flash flooding that inundated homes and businesses, washed away bridges and prompted numerous water rescues in parts of West Virginia, officials said.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey sent 100 National Guard members to the hardest-hit areas in the northern part of the state and declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties Tuesday night. An additional 200 National Guard members were expected to arrive Wednesday morning.

“State and local agencies will remain on the ground as long as necessary to assist affected communities,” Morrisey said in a statement.

Forecasters said up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain fell in some places. No deaths were immediately reported.

The National Weather Service in Charleston warned of life-threatening flooding conditions in some communities Tuesday night and told people to “SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!”

Bob Pfister said the power was still on at the hotel where he was staying in Weston, even though the first floor was flooded, and that most people planned to stay until Wednesday morning.

“Right now this option is much better than a shelter and lifeboat,” Pfister posted on Facebook. “If the power goes out, that can change a lot!”

Videos and photos on social media showed vehicles submerged in parking lots, including at a Walmart in Weston, where muddy water flooded the store.

Emergency crews reported dozens of rescues of people trapped in submerged vehicles. However, some rescuers were unable to reach places where flooding had cut off access.

Flash flood warnings in the state expired Wednesday morning. Other warnings were issued for parts of neighboring Virginia.

The heavy rain was part of powerful storms that also produced reports of tornadoes that spread from the Cincinnati area through New Jersey to the New York City suburbs. Damage from a possible tornado was reported in the St. Marys and Belmont area of ​​West Virginia.

Emergency services communication channels were abuzz Tuesday night in Lewis and Upshur counties, which have about 40,000 residents combined.

Lifeguards performed water rescues for hours from Tuesday night into Wednesday, Lewis County Commissioner Agnes Quinn Queen said.

“The devastation across our county is extensive,” he said in a social media post.

A sinkhole caused by the storm swallowed a vehicle at a bar Tuesday night in Fayetteville, southern West Virginia.

Morrisey urged residents to stay home and said travel conditions remained dangerous Tuesday night. Flooding forced the closure of portions of Interstate 79, U.S. Route 48 and numerous secondary roads. The ground was already saturated after storms dumped more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain across the state on Saturday.

Tuesday’s storms came a decade after 23 people died after hours of heavy rain fell on the same areas.

Data from a U.S. Geological Survey water gauge showed that a stream tributary, Sand Run, reached a record level near Buckhannon, surpassing the mark set during a November 1985 flood that resulted in 47 deaths statewide.

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Associated Press writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.