A STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED IN BIG STONE GAP VIRGINIA. SEVERE WEATHER RIPPED THROUGH THE TOWN YESTERDAY AND DESTROYED SIX HOMES, DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES, AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO OTHER HOMES. AS A RESULT A 14 BLOCK AREA HAD TO BE EVACUATED. THE POPLAR HILLS AREA OF THE TOWN WAS HARDEST HIT. SO FAR, NO MAJOR INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. HIGHWAY 58 REMAINS CLOSED TODAY. MEANWHILE, UNICOI COUNTY AUTHORITIES ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON STREAMS IN THEIR AREA IN HOPES THAT NO FLOODING OCCURS.