Flash Flood in Logan County, West Virginia

Streams that flow into the Mount Gay community from the west and south, such as Mud Fork, Copperas Mine Fork, and Whitman Creek flooded. This also hit communities such as Verdunville, Cora, Shamrock, and Holden. Further upstream, the streams and mountainsides that drain into the Guyandotte River also flooded. This included areas such as the south portion fo Man and around Mallory. Many small hollows were flooded. This would include Madison Branch. A resident along Madison Branch described the flooding as the mountains letting loose and washing out the ground surrounding the homes of her relatives. They were unable to get out of the hollow to get water or supplies. At Taplin, a church was pushed off its foundation and was left sitting on the road.

Preliminary damage accounts for the county, indicated 6 single family homes and 7 mobile homes were destroyed. Major damage was to 43 single family homes and to 15 mobile homes. Over a half million dollars in damage to roads and bridges was estimated.

Several mid level disturbances acted on instability and high precipitable water to result in repetitive showers and thunderstorms. One complex of showers and thunderstorms moved out of southern Ohio into West Virginia during the early afternoon on Saturday the 12th. It helped trigger heavier rains on its southern and southwestern flank as the afternoon continued. A west to east oriented train of downpours developed. This train of heavy rain moved through Logan, northeastern Mingo, Wyoming Counties during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 12th. The downpours eventually sank south into northern McDowell County later that same evening. The rain diminished between 0000E and 0300E on Sunday the 13th.

Rain amounts of 3 to 5 inches occurred in about a 12 to 15 hour time frame. Some preliminary rain amounts included R. D. Bailey Lake with 4.82 inches, Man had 4.81 inches, Pineville 4.25 inches, and Oceana 3.33 inches.

At the onset of this rain, the ground was wetter than normal. Rains had been occurring at intervals of every 2 or 3 days during the preceding days in June.

Small stream flooding was widespread. With the steep terrain, much of the damage was not caused directly by stream flooding, but rather the runoff directly down the mountain slopes. Mud, rocks, and vegetation came off the slopes and into dwellings. In some cases shoving buildings off their foundations. Roads and bridges were closed and damaged.

A strong rise occurred along the upper Guyandotte River. Even downstream of the R. D. Bailey Dam, the level in the community of Man crested at 16.6 feet around 0230E on the 13th, slightly over its 15 foot estimated flood stage. The river crested just below the 23 foot stage in the city of Logan. However, this river flooding did not cause much damage.

Governor Manchin declared a state of emergency. Around 100 National Guard troops were used in the clean up. Feeding stations were provided by church and relief organizations. A few overnight relief shelters were opened. A presidental disaster declaration was signed for the four counties of Logan, Wyoming, Mcdowell, and Mingo. See FEMA disaster number 1918 for more details.