The desperate search for a 4-year-old boy who was swept away by floodwaters in West Virginia is expected to resume Friday as the dangerous weather has already claimed the lives of two others.

Rescue crews said the boy jumped into the water outside his home in Ravenswood. According to WCHS-TV, his grandfather tried to get into the water to save him but the current was too strong. The grandfather was able to get out of the water.

The initial search Thursday lasted about five hours. Members of the search and rescue crews spotted by the boy twice but the water was moving too quickly and couldn’t reach him.

Emergency Management and 911 Director Walter Smittle told the Associated Press the small stream flows into the Sandy Creek, which empties into the Ohio River.

Officials confirmed earlier Thursday than an 8-year-old boy who had been swept away by the storm was killed. According to WTOV-TV, the boy was found unresponsive in a creek near Wheeling.

Wheeling Police Department Deputy Chief Martin Kimball said the boy, who was later identified as Emanual Williams, was transported to the hospital, but he later died.

West Virginia Metro News reported that an elderly man drowned in floodwaters around 8:30 p.m. in Kanawha County.

The heavy rains even swept away a house that ended up colliding with a bridge near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

The search for the toddler was one of many rescue scenes across the state, as a band of heavy thunderstorms created severe flash flooding.

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin issued a state of emergency for 44 counties after mudslides, rockslides and flooding caused by the severe storms damaged homes, businesses roads and bridges in the area.

"Certain portions of Greenbrier and Nicholas Counties have been rendered inaccessible because of public infrastructure damage," a statement from the goveor's office read.

The Greenbrier Resort, which is schedule to host the PGA Tour's Greenbrier Classic in just over a week, said in a press release it is experiencing heavy flooding throughout the resort and in the surrounding areas.

"It's like nothing I've seen," Jim Justice, Owner and CEO of The Greenbrier, said in a release. "But our focus right now isn't on the property, the golf course or anything else. We're praying for the people and doing everything we can to get them the help they need."

The resort said all actions are being taken to keep guests and resort employees safe.

Emergency dispatchers in Nicholas County told WCHS/WVAH-TV that crews are moving residents from their homes in downtown Richwood due to severe flooding.

Rescue teams told the television station they plan set up emergency shelters, and that buses also being used to take residents from their homes to safety.

The National Weather Service said water was seeping over the Summit Lake dam in Richwood, but it has not been breached.

Virginia Sisson, who has a home on Main Street in Richmond told WCHS/WVAH-TV the area is already saturated and is conceed about receiving anymore rain.

"There's no electricity. It's scary here," she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.