A Slideshow of the 1985 Flood in West Virginia

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A silideshow of photos of the 1985 Flood in West Virginia from the staffs of the Charleston Gazette and Charleston Daily Mail, with recollections by photographers and staffers who shot photos and wrote stories from the front lines of the flood-damaged counties. A total of 47 people were killed in the floods. Pendleton and Grant counties had the most fatalities. Towns such as Parsons, Rowlesburg, Philippi, Marlinton, Glenville, Petersburg, and Moorefield were severely damaged, according to the wvencyclopedia.org. A companion video to a story in the Thursday, Nov. 4, 2015 Charleston Gazette-Mail: www.wvgazettema...

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30 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 185

@xmasgirl3048 5 лет назад

I remember being in 6th grade. My dad was a state truck driver and was known for his excellent driving. He was called by the Governor Moore’s office to assist in this tragic flooding. I can’t recall how many days he was gone but it seems like it was at least 2 weeks. He was driving supplies from Charleston to devastated areas and assisted in helping victims. This tragedy made me realize that my dad, along with so many of West Virginians were hard workers and would work hard to help strangers just because they knew it was the right thing to do. West Virginians are strong, proud, and giving.

@sheilaburrell3827 5 лет назад

I was 5 then. W.V made it. We always do

@cragjames544 5 лет назад

I was born that yr but we are a differnt breed ppl can hate on wv all they want love my state

@Googjg 3 часа назад

I remember my grandparents driving me thru Romney a couple months after the flood. Clothes were still up in trees, so many buildings just washed away with nothing but the foundation left. Until now I never knew how widespread the flood was.

@jimevans4347 5 лет назад

I was in the Guard back then. Got put in charge of Cass for a couple or weeks. Had more problems from sight-seers than anything else. Got rid of them by telling where they could go and help with some work.

@mountainmetalhead15 5 лет назад

I still remember the national guard picking me and my family up on a boat from our second floor window . That was in middle of Weston

@mountainmetalhead15 5 лет назад

I’m sure I recognize the name . Did you go to LC high school?

@usmc-veteran73-77 5 лет назад

I was in the Army National Guard then. I served with the 111th Engineer Group which was based out of the Buchannon Armory. That was a bad flood. The Summer Flood of 2001 was a bad flood also. But the 1985 was the worst flood I work with after 20 yrs in the WV Army National Guard.

@oflo1750 5 лет назад

My town of Albright got it pretty good too. I was born the year after but I've seen pictures and the old bridge that was washed away, half of it is still in the cheat River down here

@krankenheim13 5 лет назад

I was 6 years old living outside of Junior, WV at the time of the 1985 flood. We were lucky enough that the water didn't come up to our home but so many others weren't so lucky. And in neighboring Belington, it seemed like the whole of downtown was under water. Looking at these pictures reminds me of how lucky I was that my Dad shielded me from the devastation of this tragic flood. I can't imagine how he must have been beside himself the entire time, worried for our safety.

@neywondarkson6260 5 лет назад

I remember that flood even today, I was attending Glenville State College after getting out of the Army. My parents were living just west of there in Grantsville, were I and my wife live today (on high ground). It was a terrible time seeing all the loss and destruction, my room mate and stepped up when they can to our class asking for people to help. By the time we took a break that night we were trapped in town due to high water. It should never be forgotten.

@sirdukeusa3289 5 лет назад

No flood should ever be forgotten.

@meganmegan2887 5 лет назад

I remember being on the West Fork, we lived in Chole. We were stuck in the holler for days. I've seen other pictures of extended family members and their houses being underwater that was on Yellow Creek Now I think about it I think that was 88,but the family members on Yellow Creek that was 85

@awboat 2 года назад

I had class in the morning out at the Forestry building and remembering streams running down the hill behind the building where streams never should be. Later that night I was in The Pub when the water came over the threshold and Bobby Lane said if anyone wanted beer go to the cooler and take what you could. I had spent hours and hours that afternoon and evening first moving stuff at the feed store at the corner higher up in the building, and then at the grocery store loading all the food to take up to the school cafeteria. I worked in the cafeteria at the time too. We ended up feeding anyone and everyone that wanted. I went to the Pub to drink a couple of beers and then head home. I grabbed 2 cases and started home but when I got to Main Street there were a bunch of people getting folks out of the houses in boats so I helped, leaving the beer somewhere. Never saw my beer again. I remember the old ladies refusing to leave their houses. We lived on College Street close to college so were were ok. I had 3 good friends that lived across the bridge and I spent the next week helping them clean up. What a mess. I had real good friends that lived in Petersburg and the flood took their house, but it was on fire as the water took it away so they fought with the insurance companies for a couple years on who paid. I remember it like it was yesterday. I worked as a raft guide on the Cheat so it hit home in a different way there. Our company was one of the first down during training. Huge rocks were moved, rapids completely rearraigned.

@innerviews7233 5 лет назад

4:45....remember the old WV State flower?

@tammyweaver5857 5 лет назад

We travel all over the United States for work and West Virginia is the only state I have ever been to that I truly get frightened when it rains hard. The rain runs off the steep hillsides like rivers and waterfalls.

@jimmymack3478 5 лет назад

Tammy Weaver you just chicken

@feurigerStern 5 лет назад

When i first moved to West Virginia it was explained to me that it is inclined to be flooded.

@miked7212 3 года назад

Arkansas too thinking about the 2010 Arkansas flash flood that killed many overnight.

@thomassteele1728 5 лет назад

Absolutely amazing now many comments with first or second account stories of this event. Never seen a comment spot on a video like this.

@innerviews7233 5 лет назад

paw paw was wiped off of the map the river changed coarse

@innerviews7233 5 лет назад

I remember being between the bridges at Harpers Ferry you couldn't see any rocks and there were 20 foot waves traveling *upstream*

@nomore4me286 5 лет назад

I was a young boy in Hancock then

@sirdukeusa3289 5 лет назад

In the flood of the century a couple of years go, that flood rerouted one of our rivers

@lisamongold9576 5 лет назад

My dad lost two brothers in this flood with two twin brothers and two other men a very sad time 💔😢

@llynne423 5 лет назад

Lisa Mongold - 😢

@mariannjack5839 10 месяцев назад

Such a tragedy. The twin brothers were my cousins.

@MrBgxlchamps 5 лет назад

I was a volunteer fireman in Valley Head. From pumping basements to doing traffic control it was grueling. Maybe a few hours sleep in a few days.

@kristopherjackson9952 3 года назад

I know im asking randomly but does anyone know of a way to get back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb lost the password. I would love any tips you can offer me.

@lanebrycen8762 3 года назад

@Kristopher Jackson Instablaster :)

@kristopherjackson9952 3 года назад

@Lane Brycen I really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and im in the hacking process now. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

@kristopherjackson9952 3 года назад

@Lane Brycen it worked and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thank you so much you saved my account!

@lanebrycen8762 3 года назад

@Kristopher Jackson happy to help xD

@sirdukeusa3289 5 лет назад

My daughter was 2 yrs old at the time and in the hospital, I remember watching Elk River (in Webster Springs) rising from the hospital room. It was aweful. We had to stay a couple extra days. It was as bad as the flood of the century of the 2000's.

@robertparker5271 5 лет назад

Was 15 and lived in Weston, Wv during this, our house had 3 feet of water in it and we had to stay at grandma's place..... helped Homer Bennett who owned Bennett's Firestone when he asked for able bodies to help move the furniture in his warehouse to the second floor

@mountainmetalhead15 5 лет назад

Robert Parker hearing someone speak of Bennett’s Firestone reminds me of how good small town living was . I’m sure you remember franks bakery and g c Murphy’s

@robertparker5271 5 лет назад

@@mountainmetalhead15 .... remember Frank's Bakery and Murphys very well, I use to hunt on Frank's property that bordered some family's property out Vadis

@robertparker5271 5 лет назад

@@mountainmetalhead15 ... my Grandmother lived in the apartments above Paul Titus's barbershop there across from the bakery

@marissaawesome2422 5 лет назад

I lived right up the road from Springfield. Was complete devastation. School friends home completely missing, gone! Dairy Farms and the stock all gone! Cows hanging from the bridges. I was 11 years old. It burned into my brain

@guitarguru.3572 Год назад

I was in grade school when the flood hit. I grew up in Cassity, which is near Elkins. We’ve seen the Middle Fork River rage several times, but it was the only time that we had to take high ground to the church. I’ll never forget trying to get comfortable on the wooden pews to sleep while everyone prayed.

@18winsagin 5 лет назад

Remember going in Raines' Exxon store as a kid in Riverton, Grandad lived there but passed in 82 , the social hall washed away in this flood where they had lunch the day of the funeral which sat across the river behind Raines store.

@johnjones4096 5 лет назад

I was 4 years old, I remember standing on the hill in Westover wv a suburb of Morgantown, at my aunt Judy's, looking down at the town of Granville completely underwater. The whole state of west virginia was devastated.

@gerryjones2583 5 лет назад

I'm from Williamson West Virginia I remember when my father was alive in 19 77 I think it was the big flood came there I guess things are very terrible up there period. here. I haven't live lived there anymore I grew up there but I moved to Florida when I was about 19 and got married I don't hear from anybody there anymore. all my family's up there on top of the mountain. In Williamson Cemetery. I'm old now and have no way to go up there I wish to God I did

@Goofy_Shorts1 4 года назад

There's nothing in Williamson anymore, sadly. Now it's banks, doctor's offices, and empty storefronts. I left when I was 17 in 1995 to go to college and never came back. I was a kid during this flood, and I remember listening to the radio as Doug Jackson said the waters were flooding into the town. This really was the last gasp for Williamson.

@sonyamoffatt8643 5 лет назад

That was a horrible flood Webster springs, curtain, bergoo all got hammered something awful but the 88 flood was worse.. the 85 flood bored the elk river out made it wider.. when the 88 flood hit it went up fast bigger wider and there wasn't as much river bank holding it back this time, really tore shit up..

@jennysmith7170 5 лет назад

I remember this. I was 16 and living in Jackson Co then over by Ripley. Tough times.

@marquitarobertson8878 5 лет назад

I was 5 years old I lived in Roanoke VA and it was Devastation many people lost their lives as well

@stevehartman1730 10 месяцев назад

The Kingsford Chsrcoal plant in Parsons. WEST virginia called all employees into the plant. The managers told them to clean out the plant then go throughout the town to help cleanup and they would be paid just as if they were on the job and as the new equipment would come in they would be called to the plant to get it back in working order. I ONLY BUY KINGSFORD CHARCOAL.

@mwhyte1979 5 лет назад

I was stationed with Air Force in New Hampshire when the floods happen. Got a call in the barracks from my mother and she told me that our camp by the South Branch river in Hampshire County was washed away. I remember watching the news in the TV room of the barracks getting frustrated that WV was not mentioned but that there was stories that Richmond VA. Had some minor flooding.

@mh53j 5 лет назад

Michael Whyte I lived in Richmond then. Some of the water treatment plant we're overwhelmed, parts of the city had unsafe water for several days. Some of the bridges were closed ( the "nickel" bridge, which I had to use) because the water had got almost to the road level--- and there were dumbasses out on the bridge looking at the raging river. No, nothing at all like what West Virginia had to deal with, you're right about that. Inconvenience vs destruction.

@mwhyte1979 5 лет назад

@@mh53j I couldn't even get that much from the news. The news literally would only say that Richmond had some flooded basement. As the days went by WV got a quick mention about "some" flooding. It wasn't till I went home on leave a couple of month's later that even after the clean up had begun that I was stunned by how bad thing had been.

@kimberlykitzmiller5042 5 лет назад

I was just out of High School and lived (still do) in Hampshire County. There was no news on the Radio about the flood the next morning, I'm talking about our local stations. No mention of school closings or anything. I live right in Romney which the South Branch of the Potomac River runs through. Fortunately we were on higher ground. I was driving my younger brother to school then and we actually got up. Listened to the radio and TV as we did every day and I drove him to school. When we got there, of course it was closed. We were just confused. Found out about the flood when we pulled onto Main St (Rt 50) from School Street which is at the top of "Town Hill". Looking to our right you could see the bridge was washed away, the water plant was under water and huge chunks of pavement we're sticking up at odd angles. The water was incredibly high and moving fast. It was scary and surreal as we watched parts of houses and cars go flying by. We were kind of cut off here as two bridges leading out of town were washed away and a third in Capon Bridge leading into VA was impassable and damaged. We didn't suffer any property or personal damages right in town, but we're without water and sewer for a good while. We were very lucky. A lot of it is foggy now but there are memories of incredible damage as the water receded and you could walk or drive to some close areas to see it and try to get a grasp of what happened. It was sad. So very sad and scary. I've known that river my whole life and never imagined it could reach the levels it did. Scary. I hope it never happens again...

@mh53j 5 лет назад

Kimberly Kitzmiller very strange no announcements on the radio about what happened, I imagine it would be a shock to find such scene. How old was your brother? If he was pretty young, something like that would be terrifying.

@mwhyte1979 5 лет назад

@@kimberlykitzmiller5042 glad that you was safe. My family had our river lot down by Springfield. It was set back from the river a bit and on a patch of higher ground so we had never really had a problem with it flooding other than being cut off from getting to it when the river got high. That's why it was such a shock to me when I was told it flooded also. When I came home on leave from the Air Force I went with my dad to see what we could salvage and it was shocking and heartbreaking what I saw. I got that book of pictures that someone put out later with pictures from the flood and the one that's always stuck with me though I can't remember were it was at is of the bridge after the waters had gone down and you could see all the debris jammed in the bottom of the bridge and in the middle of it the four legs of dome poor cow was sticking out of the debris. That's crazy that you didn't hear anything on the local radio stations warning you about the flooding.

@puravida7948 5 лет назад

55 strong! Then and now

@lavenderrosehealingmassage7232 3 года назад

I was 15 years old when this happened. I remember school was closed for a month.

@stevekite3314 8 лет назад

Fabulous Imagery that everyone in the Mountain State should see, lest we forget.

@bartleymollohan950 5 лет назад

i was a sophomore at Glenville State College. A buddy and I barely made it back to Gleville from Weston before all the roads were covered.

@zenseed75 5 лет назад

Was 10, remember being cut off from visiting our family friends between Hinton and Talcott. Also, a picture of a dead cow stuck on the underside of a bridge hanging, that came out in the flood picture book.

@charleskesner1302 6 лет назад

A sad day in deed.

@michelleauville3991 5 лет назад

I just wanted to thank everyone that came to Petersburg and the surrounding areas that gave their help and support. As a matter of fact I'd like to thank everyone that helped the whole state and everyone that was involved in the crosshairs of this vicous flood

@Pureignition58 5 лет назад

0:32 If the water level was one foot under the road line it would look like provocanyon road in Utah 40 years ago.

@jennys5545 5 лет назад

I remember that flood my grandma lived in marlinton WV when it happened.. I was just a kid then maybe 10 or 11 at the time. She lost everything. It was devastating.

@marlinmaveric 4 года назад

I was stick in a neighbors house upstairs on the other side Marlinton all night. We lived at the mouth of the greenbrier and knapps creek. The water took our garage and var and had a major cleenup. We almost did make it out if it wasn't for a family friend.

@timothyt1312 4 года назад

I lived in Bowden , it took out the steel bridge by the campground , it was alot of water

@judypierce7028 3 года назад

I was working with the WV State Department of Education in 1985 in Charleston. I remember this flood and how many areas it affected.

@melissakerns1827 6 лет назад

I was 4 years old I was visiting my famliy with my grandparents we had to be pulled acrossed the river in a boat my grandma was scared to death

@jude1515 2 года назад

I have been here. So sad for the people of this town.

@ellennbs2807 5 лет назад

My mother was in a car accident and broke her back. We lived in Elkins WV and she went to Parsons WV to stay and recover at my Uncle's house. Unfortunately it flooded and there she was, could barely walk and they had to be rescued. My Uncle lost his home. Driving around looking at the devastation was horrible and still very vivid in my mind.

@myphone9900 7 лет назад

I was sent to Petersburg with the WVARNG - this was horrible. I was 20 and will never forget this.

@usmc-veteran73-77 5 лет назад

I was with the 111th Engineer Group, we were housed at the Buchanan Armory. In my 20 yrs with the WVARG (1983-2003) that was my 1st flood and the worst flood. The Summer 2001 flood was a bad one too.

@thecheese4255 5 лет назад

Thanks for helping my home town

@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont 4 месяца назад

There was no damage around Fairmont itself (the entire city is a good fifty feet and more above the river, but low areas of Rivesville were flooded out. Even the B&O Railroad Yard was high enough that operations were not affected. I always followed the railroad scene, and the devastation of the "Mountain Subdivision" aka "The West End" between Cumberland and Grafton was terrible...the bridge at Rowlesburg washed away and the death of Mr. D.S. Ake on Seventeen Mile Grade when a locomotive he was on slid over the hill when the tracks were undercut by a slide. B&O had already taken the Trailer Trains (Jets) off the previous summer so there wasn't much traffic "over the mountain" except loaded and empty coal hoppers. It was somewhat wonderous that B&O decided to rebuild the bridge at Rowlesburg (albeit with just one track), a job that only took about three weeks. Forty years ago next year, in 2025. I was in the old Rowlesburg High School a few years ago and stopped in the restroom by the old gym. A cold chill ran up my spine when I realized that entire room had been under water for several hours in 1985. The elderly from the era are now gone and the younger ones are now in their fifties and beyond. Anyone who saw it firsthand or even followed the story closely will never forget it.

@pamelacook4896 5 лет назад

Lived through it. Ill never forget the devastation through the whole area. Romney WV was also a mess. Into western Maryland. It just rained and rained and rained.

@thecheese4255 5 лет назад

This was November 4th and 5th, 1985 I was 13 and living in Petersburg Looking back as an adult, I’m amazed how many of our services (electrical power, phone, etc.) remained operational or were quickly restored Much credit due to the utility workers We had a month out of school and when we went back, the weather changed and the mud turned into a dusty, frozen shell I recall helping family clean access roads and property in general in South Fork, WV, at a hunting club Stinking, dead chickens where scattered in brush, trees, fields... What a night that defined our lives for the next few months The Fox and Ox trailer park was swept away at the Grant/Hardy line Just... gone with no meaningful trace left Nice little park after the flood

@18winsagin 5 лет назад

Wow I bet the dead animal's were plenty mm, do you recall the farm Vandevender Acres there, my Dad's brother and his family lived on it back in the 50s up til early to mid 70s but it sold years ago, I guess the sign is probably gone long ago that was out by the road.

@thecheese4255 5 лет назад

18winsagin Yeah, the smell was a mess of mud and death My younger brother and I accompanied my Uncle Gus to Hardy County and he warned us to be ready to see the worst Pretty heavy stuff for kids, but the worst we saw was the occasional dead cow and remains of structures (assumed some of that wreckage was from homes) Yeah, I know that property On Rt 28 heading west out of Petersburg I guess much of that property is a housing development now I believe the old farmhouse was the crisis response unit I worked in while in college That house (if it’s the correct one that was the family home... gentleman farmer and doctor is what I was told) still stands and is now a halfway house/tx center named for a former Petersburg mayor and alcoholic, Russ Hedrick The housing development carries the Vandevander name as Vandevander Acres and is entered on Vandevander Drive

@18winsagin 5 лет назад

@@thecheese4255 wow, that's interesting. I didn't know our name was on the development but I'm glad to hear that Haha , Kisamore was the original owners of the house, he ran a car dealership I believe but I never knew him , I came along in 62 and have lived in Virginia all my life but go to Whitmer every labor day for a reunion/Homecoming, really nice chatting with you and it is a small world and of course has changed so much and not as much for the better unfortunately, so I just try to remember the good days as a kid when worries were few and Mom and Dad handled everything lol.

@thecheese4255 5 лет назад

18winsagin Hey, no problem If you ever find yourself in Petersburg, there’s an old fellow who has a military museum just before the turn off to Vandevander Drive as you drive west out of town Also, there’s a great local restaurant called Cheetah B’s just past Vandevander Drive on the left in the local American Legion Dang good ribs to be had there Travel safe and farewell!

@YVONNELAWTRANCE 4 года назад

🙋Hi ~ We are near the same age. Trying to figure out who you actually are! 😇 I'm Heather Law, Petersburg High, Class of 1989. I moved there AFTER the flood actually. My family, (father) owned & operated Grant Co. Airport ("LAW AVIATION") then. He helped rescue many people who were close to death, stranded on rooftops and animal rescue as well. ♥

@Dan_is_a_liar 5 лет назад

Our house was flooded too back in 85. In Virginia on the shanandoah

@tammywines9789 5 лет назад

My family lived here and we still do live here on the beautiful Shenandoah river here in Jefferson county west Virginia. My whole life has been here looking at the blue ridge mountains and Shenandoah river. We will never forget 1985 .

@keithallen8543 4 года назад

I remember this too. I was in 5th grade, maybe. I lived above Hinton at the time. I remember all the flooding

@Luaksz 5 лет назад

Kenny Kemp I feel that in someway you’re connected to Pittsburgh. I heard you say worsh and that’s what I thought.

@jimmyshrimbe9361 5 лет назад

Pixburgh**

@Luaksz 5 лет назад

Don't, Jim Angius my apologies, you’re right. I’m not from dahntahn but I’m in the area n’at.

@Jack-ue8or 5 лет назад

Łuaksz it’s Pennsylvanian

@lindawvafreeman3669 3 года назад

my grandfather lived in cabins Wva and right along the river,He would tell us you could hear the water coming down the river.He and his wife just made it across the road and up the hill when the water came rushing down and took everything in it's path.His home and other peoples homes and business.

@awboat 2 года назад

I had a friend that lost his fiancé somewhere around Cabins. She was coming back to Elkins from Winchester. Not sure if they ever found her. I heard people talking about the noise of the river. There would be dams formed by all the trees being uprooted and then the dams would break loose. Wave after wave of higher water. I heard from people that were on roofs of houses and then the house would wash away. Cabins was one of the worse hit areas since the North Fork narrows down there.

@patriciadollin6421 5 лет назад

i had family who lived in Parsons and St George during the flood. Bishops and Carricos

@JonJaeden 5 лет назад

We were flooded out of Berwind in 1956 or '57.

@sandrataylor8147 5 лет назад

My son was sent up to Grant County{Petersburg} with his guard troop from Charleston. I did not hear from him for two weeks. I went on the hunt for him. I have never seen such devastation in my life. We just did make it there. Roads were out houses , barns, cattle were everywhere.I brought him back and he went back up there in 3 days.He is still there with a family now. He was in Desert Storm and has 2 sons-1Army-1Air Force. Speaking of floods, I lost everything I had , when the thousand year flood hit here 3years ago in Kanawha co.

@usmc-veteran73-77 5 лет назад

I was in the WV Army Guard, 111th Engineer Group we were based out of the Buchanan Armory, my 20 yrs with Guard, (1983-2003) the 1985 was the worse. The Summer 2001 Flood was bad too.

@sirdukeusa3289 5 лет назад

@@usmc-veteran73-77 Buckhannon

@thecheese4255 5 лет назад

Thank you to your son from a Petersburg native

@innerviews7233 5 лет назад

none of these floods were close to 1936

@thecheese4255 5 лет назад

innerviews 723 Are you gatekeeping natural disasters?

@tammywines9789 5 лет назад

I grew up on the old Shenandoah river here in the eastern panhandle of beautiful west Virginia. My family and friends we all lost our homes. My brother and his best buddy were on the front page of the Washington post in my brothers boat coming back from helping paramedics get to an elderly lady having a heart attack. I will never forget 1985 flooding.

@cragjames544 5 лет назад

I grew up in Shannondale on the river love wv best state there is

@jimmyshrimbe9361 5 лет назад

So sad. 3 years before I was born.

@darrellg6279 2 года назад

We were at our cabin near Parsons until early afternoon that Sunday. We returned to our home in Ohio when I received a call from a friend asking if the flood had done us any damage. I replied, "What Flood?", and he told me what he had heard on the news that it was flooding in West Virginia. I told him, "If it reaches our cabin, we had better build an ark." Shortly thereafter we got another call. Family members told us that they were not sure if water had gotten into our cabin. I didn't build an ark. I returned two weeks later and viewed the remains of a camping trailer lodged in a tree about thirty feet high in a tree. The flood waters had separated the earth into piles of rocks, sand, and topsoil.

@georgegaylord 2 месяца назад

I was in Roncerverte WV and we had a old style metal arch bridge across the river. It was about twenty feet above the river bed and the force of the river water started to make the bridge bend and slide on its concrete pillars it was an amazingly powerful sight. Some old locals claimed to have seen the famous Moth-man on the bridge that day. Can’t say yes or no but I did see a steel bridge floating in the current!

@patriciarussell1177 Год назад

everyone forgot about River Road in Shepherdstown West Virginia I was there!!!It was trippy it was like the Potomac was pregnant and having a baby right then and there I saw it rise foot by foot right before my eyes and I could not get my van turned around fast enough, I was heading home to my dog my cat and my bird! I had to race to the other side to go down river road to my home which was like a arc to be honest because it was on the ridge of the Potomac River right below the most flooded area anytime we had Highwater. I made it and then my boyfriend had to park somewhere and hike up and over. and we did see callus on tops of house tops floating down the river.And it came up the driveway but it never got into the water system I would have pictures of myself pointing to the height of the water behind me.

@bbarker5766 4 года назад

I was 15 when this happened. Saw so much devastation and I always hoped that it'd never happen again.

@lilfairycupcake Месяц назад

creeks turn into rivers, real quick.

@aimee2014 4 года назад

I love history, thank you for this sad but great history!!

@SasquatchBioacoustic 5 лет назад

I knew Albert Raines who owned that little Exxon in Riverton. He's passed on, and his wife passed a few years ago. Their little Exxon station is still there, but not in operation. I had forgotten just how many buildings were wiped out of Riverton. This flood was so bad when it happened that I heard about it all the way on the other side of the world, while I was stationed in Korea.

@18winsagin 5 лет назад

I believe the store is gone best as I can remember , there's a new one just past it now with several gas pumps but I believe it's gone now unless I'm mistaken I didn't notice last labor day, I go through once a year for the last 40 years anyway Haha but I'll look this year just to be sure.

@SasquatchBioacoustic 5 лет назад

@@18winsagin The Exxon is still there, just no longer in business. And you're right, there is a newer station/store opened up just past it, called the Rivermart.

@michelleauville3991 5 лет назад

My family is from Riverton, Seneca, Circleville area. They are the Auville family.

@RodneyNeal-y5y 3 месяца назад

I worked on road repair after the flood

@marissaawesome2422 5 лет назад

Bring back The Black Water 100 Race!! We will see who is truly from Wv.....lol..

@awboat 2 года назад

I got rid of the Blackwater 100, thank you very much. Yeah, seriously. I personally got rid of it. But Mon Power wanted me to help them get rid of it. You can go to Snowshoe if you want a hard race. Ha ha, doubt you even ride.

@innerviews7233 5 лет назад

the bench mark for "100 year" floods on the Potomac was 18 March 1936 very large snow pack is melted by heavy rain🌨🌧 similar flood but around 14 feet lower was January 1996....then the same year in September was the flood associated with hurricane Erin that was a few feet lower... 🌀

@jamieseeley3044 5 лет назад

I went to Petersburg to offer relief. Horrible devastation.

@nothankyouYouTube420 5 лет назад

I was -11 years old when this happened. Member the siggly nature of things

@shimereemoon 2 года назад

@mountainmetalhead15 5 лет назад

I still remember the national guard picking me and my family up on a boat from our second floor window . That was in middle of Weston

@mountainmetalhead15 5 лет назад

I still remember the national guard picking me and my family up on a boat from our second floor window . That was in middle of Weston

@parenodell5572 5 лет назад

My mom and my older brother and sister remember this flood. I was just 3. In 2001 living in Scrabble Creek in Gauley Bridge, My now wife and her ex husband lost everything they had to a flood. Her F150 ended up in the Gauley River. The water carried the Dodge van that belonged to the ex father in law was heavily damaged. There is a picture somewhere online of her 01 white Dodge sport truck with it's nose burried in the rubble and the back end of the truck is straight up in the air. She lost her house her MILs trailer was damaged. WV got hit pretty bad on that one. In 2017 another flood devastated WV. My son was affected not to much damage to his mother's home. Belva WV was half wiped out. My wife's family lived there, just totally took houses away. We grew up there. It's just unbelievable what water is capable of.

@sirdukeusa3289 5 лет назад

In the 2017 flood of the century, I worked for 3 weeks, first week carrying cleaning supplies to flooded victims, the 2nd and 3rd week with my local fire dep't taking supplies to flood victims. It was the worse I've ever seen. The state promised all these new houses for our victims, but Joe Manchin made sure that the ones close to Charleston got the new homes.

@rkradz8576 5 лет назад

Sorry but they are talking about 1985..

@innerviews7233 5 лет назад

Brenda Morris WV State government tends to be hillbilly gangsterish

@sirdukeusa3289 5 лет назад

@@rkradz8576 I know which flood they are talking about,

@sirdukeusa3289 5 лет назад

@@innerviews7233 Joe Manchin made sure his people close to him were taken care of.

@mountainmetalhead15 5 лет назад

I still remember the national guard picking me and my family up on a boat from our second floor window . That was in middle of Weston

@billypayne6197 3 месяца назад

is this internet stuttering ?

@normal_media 5 лет назад

I just spoke to a lady who apparently was one of the few survivors of this in Petersburg. She literally dove into the rapids between waves to attempt to be saved, and luckily made it.So many people she warned, didnt listen to her and they perished. She told of one man who used his belt to try and save his wife and she couldnt hold on. He was found stripped of clothing atop a tree but was saved.

@tomliii8619 5 лет назад

You can't pave, and, create parking lots and big box roofs without run off.

@jimj7871 5 лет назад

In West Virginia banjo music is piped in. Even in natural disasters.

@thomasharmon7800 4 года назад

Just imagine what Noah's flood did to the whole world

@awboat 2 года назад

Yep, good ole god killed millions cause, reasons???

@apoch003 5 лет назад

The slideshow and the music being so old timey as if it was 1885. Sheesh! It doesn't help. Return of the Jedi came out two years before this flood. Ghostbusters was a year before it. The Cosby Show and Cheers were on TV. Cyndi Lauper had a new pop album out. Madonna was huge.

@innerviews7233 5 лет назад

apoch003 you're 180 degrees wrong black and white shows the essence of the scene

@jamesyancey3128 5 лет назад

So, do you think they would have played this ridiculous stereotypical background music had the flood taken place in say California or New York? It's no wonder the world has the view of West Virginia that they do.

@cathylopez3034 5 лет назад

happy hemorrhoid80 I was wondering that myself. I’ve lived in WV most of my life. I have never known anyone who played, owned, or even listened to banjos!

@jamesyancey3128 5 лет назад

@@cathylopez3034 nor have I

@ninacaswell8404 5 лет назад

Cathy Lopez Me neither 😆

@kimberlykitzmiller5042 5 лет назад

I have been here my whole life too. Don't know what part of the state you're from but I'm in the Eastern Panhandle - apple country no coal mines. I hear and know people who play Banjos. That music was kind of soothing to me. I don't care for Bluegrass but it's pretty prevalent here. I'm in Hampshire County. We are not backwoods or hillbillies. Well most of us... But that happens all over. We can be in DC in a couple of hours depending on how bad the traffic is. Maybe you should know your state a little better.

@darlenepaul2918 5 лет назад

Hats the truth.They think we're all sitting in our overalls, chewing "tabacce" and playing our fiddles ....geez"!

@MrWhitelightning73 3 года назад

Don’t like floods? Don’t live near moving water 💦

@timothywestern6488 3 года назад

Onego... blink and you might miss it.

@JohnSmith-wth 6 лет назад

Didn't they have color photo's in 85? LOL

@wds179 5 лет назад

No an their out houses had crack in the walls too ,duhhh u idiot !

@wds179 5 лет назад

Did you have internet or cell phone in 1985. Noooo!!! Duffus listen to how they had to take photos ,during this disaster ! Listen!!!

@darlenepaul2918 5 лет назад

Apparently not here!!!???

@michelleauville3991 5 лет назад

@@wds179 if pamela loved Jesus that much she wouldnt have such a smart mouth and call people idiots.

@awboat 2 года назад

@@wds179 WOW, so christ-like with your passion for other people.

@Bloopblop1234 5 лет назад

But why are they black and white pics? It was 1985?!?

@omar10213245 4 года назад

yes, but this is West Virginia, where it was actually 1935

@billypayne6197 3 месяца назад

Most publications that had breaking news used B&W photos as they were faster to get over the phone - colour took longer and people were used to B&W photos still .

@Bloopblop1234 3 месяца назад

@@billypayne6197 took 4 years but thanks for the answer dawg! 😂👍

@gerryjones2583 5 лет назад

Why didn't you stop and help those people is there no kindness in the world anymore you could have took then somewhere maybe or gave them some food or something . you just drove by then and didn't even offer to help what kind of person are you and n may the Lord Jesus Christ forgive you that's horrible that's the way the world is nowadays they don't care about nobody but yourself including you

@kimberlykitzmiller5042 5 лет назад

They got help. Everyone that could help did help in some way at least here in the Eastern Panhandle. The press people didn't have the capability to help but I heard of them doing what they could when needed. They snap of a camera just takes a second. You don't know that they just drove away after that.

@awboat 2 года назад

Why did jesus kill 47 people?

@lisalang3226 6 лет назад

3bc; Dirtbagz Universe; under planet dirtt.

@smug8567 5 лет назад

Well ain't this place a geographical oddity! Two weeks from everywhere

@jamesyancey3128 5 лет назад

Just take a look at a map of the u.s. that shows the lit up parts of the country. there's a little dark spec in the Mid-Atlantic that is unmistakably West Virginia. Dark amongst the light. We're like the North Korea of the western world. LOL

@kimberlykitzmiller5042 5 лет назад

I'm 2 hours from DC...I have seen backwoods parts of the state but that's not my WV... Visit us here in the gorgeous Mountains if you ever get the chance...

@innerviews7233 5 лет назад

happy hemorrhoid80 western virgil tuckey

@jamesyancey3128 5 лет назад

@@kimberlykitzmiller5042 I've lived all my 38 years here in summers co wv

@kimberlykitzmiller5042 5 лет назад

@@jamesyancey3128 ...I am so sorry, but in my mind. I can not picture where your county is located. I certainly do know that many areas in the state are very rural and I apologize if I was offensive. I have lived my whole life in the Easter Panhandle more connected to MD and VA than the rest of my state. Depending on traffic I am 1:45 from Morgantown and a long way from Southern and Western WV.

@tapptom 5 лет назад

The road was “ wharshased” away....aaah those hillbillies

@kimberlykitzmiller5042 5 лет назад

Every one I know says washed except maybe for a few old timers and I mean old. I hear they talk that way in some places in our State. Eastern Panhandle, apple country, River recreation here. We are not all like you think! 😉

@tapptom 5 лет назад

Terry Bonnell love WVa