West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency for nine counties Thursday night because of a chemical spill into the Elk River in Charleston, advising residents not to drink, bathe, cook or wash clothes in the water and to only use it for flushing. The chemical, used in the coal preparation process, leaked from a tank at Freedom Industries and overran a containment area on Thursday. Freedom Industries did not immediately respond for comment. The amount that spilled isn’t immediately known. West Virginia American Water has a treatment plant nearby. The company’s president, Jeff McIntyre, said the advisory affects up to 100,000 customers. “The water has been contaminated,” said Tomblin, who didn’t know how long the emergency declaration would last. It includes includes West Virginia American Water customers in Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, and Roane counties. Tomblin said the advisory also extends to restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes and other […]