Flash Flood — Buchanan, Virginia

2002-05-02 to 2002-05-03 · near North Portion, Buchanan, Virginia

Wider weather episode

Repetitive showers and thunderstorms moved rapidly across northern Buchanan County from west to east from the late morning to the early evening. Hail fell from the thunderstorms in both Buchanan and Dickenson Counties, but the main problem was the severe flash flooding in the narrow valleys of northern Buchanan County. Rains of 2.5 to 5 inches fell in a 6 to 10 hour period. A cooperative observer at Hurley measured 4.5 inches of rain. On the state line with West Virginia, Paynesville measured 4.1 inches. Just south of the heaviest rain, Grundy had 2.3 inches. Automatic gauges at Home Creek measured 3.3 inches, while another at Big Rock had 3.5 inches. The downpours turned small streams into raging rivers, powerful enough to tumble vehicles like bath tub toys. Mobile homes were washed away, steel bridge girders, as thick as railroad rails, were bent 90 degrees with the current. Severe flash flooding occurred along such streams as Knox and Slate Creeks. Communities such as Stacy, Wolford, Blackey, and Hurley were hit hard. Hurley is situated at the junction of Lester Fork and Knox Creek. The postmaster at Hurley said, "it was like the mountain just opened up, and water started to come out. All the businesses in Hurley are gone, houses are gone. They're just gutted." Water rose as high as 12 feet in some buildings. The post office at Hurley was destroyed. A county dispatcher said, "people were tying themselves to trees, they couldn't get helicopter assistance in, it was awful."Around 100 homes were destroyed in Buchanan County, with 247 sustaining major damage. On the order of 125 private bridges were washed out. Numerous vehicles were destroyed. The electric and phone service were severed. Propane tanks broke loose in the flood waters. A 37 year old man fell off a roof and was later found lying face down in the mud of a neighbor's driveway and carport. An 84 year old man went back to his mobile home one more time, to retrieve his belongings and drowned. President Bush declared a federal disaster for both individual and public assistance, FEMA disaster 1411. The National Guard was activated and assisted by installing temporary bridges, then debris clearance. Over 6,000 tons of debris were removed by the National Guard. Hurley area schools were closed, then reopened on the 20th. Severe flash flooding also swept through neighboring McDowell County in West Virginia.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5291056. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.