One of the worst disasters in West Virginia happened in Logan county in 1972. A makeshift dam that had been built by a strip mining company was washed away by a heavy rain, and 17 communities downstream of the creek were hit with a flood of water and coal slurry. The small communities of Saunders, Pardee, Lorado, Craneco, Lundale, Stowe, Crites, Latrobe, Robinette, Amherstdale, Becco, Fanco, Riley, Braeholm, Accoville, Crown, and Kistler were all demolished or mostly destroyed.
In Logan county in 1972, a series of dams on Buffalo Creek came under scrutiny.
Youtube/Engineering Channel
Pittston Coal Company, who owned a strip mine in the area, had built the dams from coal waste to prevent the polluted water from running downstream to the communities below.
Youtube/Engineering Channel
Concern was growing about the seeming instability of the dams, but 4 days before the disaster, they were inspected and found to be in acceptable condition.
Youtube/Engineering Channel
Despite the assurance of safety, many people in the downstream communities were still concerned, and evacuated the area.
Youtube/Engineering Channel
On February 26, 1972, the upper dam crumbled and washed away, taking out the two lower dams, and flooding the communities downstream with approximately 132,000,000 US gallons of black waste water.
Youtube/Engineering Channel
Homes, cars, and people were washed away. Some bodies were never found.
Youtube/Engineering Channel
125 people were killed, 1,121 were injured, and over 4,000 were left homeless. It remains one of West Virginia’s worst disasters.
Youtube/Engineering Channel
You can watch a video with more information and stories here, from the Engineering Channel on YouTube.
Youtube/Engineering Channel
The Citizens Commission investigated and concluded that the Pittston Coal Company was negligent in the construction of the dams. Pittston Coal Company, however, declared that the disaster was an “Act of God,” and settled with the residents for approximately $13,000 for each individual affected by the flood.
The Buffalo Creek Flood motivated Congress and the West Virginia legislature to pass new laws to regulate dam construction and maintenance.
Here are nine more disasters that have tragically struck the state of West Virginia. We can only hope that the worst of West Virginia’s disasters are in the past.
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