1977 — April 3-8 Rain, Flooding, West Appalachians, KY/5, TN/7, VA/7, WV/3 — 22

— 28 Oil City Derrick, PA. “Floods Drive Thousands From Homes,” 4-6-1977, p. 15.
— 22 Blanchard tally from State breakouts below.
— 22 Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, 82.
— 22 USGS/NOAA. Flood of April 1977 in the Appalachian Region of [KY, TN, VA, WV]. 1980, p. 1.
— 22 USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in…US, PR…VI, 1970 Through 1989. 2008.
— 20 Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1982, p. 187.
— 19 Associated Press. “Flood Damage Runs into Millions of Dollars,” April 9, 1977.
— 14 Associated Press. “Flooding,” April 7, 1977.

Kentucky (5)
— 5 Burlington Times-News, NC. “Floods’ Effects Remain.” 4-8-1977, p. 2A.
— 5 Daily Times-News, NC. “Flooding: Appalachian Residents Throw Up Sandbags,” 4-6-1977
— 4 North Adams Transcript, MA. “Tornado Storm Kills 19 in Alabama.” 4-5-1977. p. 1.
— 4 Oil City Derrick, PA. “Floods Drive Thousands From Homes.” 4-6-1977, p. 15.

Tennessee (7)
— 7 Burlington Times-News, NC. “Floods’ Effects Remain.” 4-8-1977, p. 2A.

Virginia (7)
— 7 Danville Register, VA. “Cleanup Begins As Flood Waters Return to Banks,” 4-7-1977, 1.
— 2 Daily Times-News, NC. “Flooding: Appalachian Residents Throw Up Sandbags.” 4-6-1977
— 2 Oil City Derrick, PA. “Floods Drive Thousands From Homes.” 4-6-1977, p. 15.
— 1 North Adams Transcript, MA. “Tornado Storm Kills 19 in Alabama.” 4-5-1977. p. 1.

West Virginia (3)
— 3 Burlington Times-News, NC. “Floods’ Effects Remain.” 4-8-1977, p. 2A.
— 2 Daily Times-News, NC. “Flooding: Appalachian Residents Throw Up Sandbags.” 4-6-1977
— 2 Oil City Derrick, PA. “Floods Drive Thousands From Homes.” 4-6-1977, p. 15.

Narrative Information

USGS and NOAA, Abstract: “Heavy rains fell over the Appalachian region of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia during the period of April 2-i5, 1977, causing record flooding. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 15.5 in. were observed. The maximum amount of 15.5 in. occurred at Jolo, W. Va., in about 30 hours. This was more than twice the amount which would be expected for a 100-year recurrence-interval storm. Flood discharges along the upper Guyandotte River, Tug Fork and Levisa Fork [KY] in the Big Sandy River basin, Cumber- land River, and Clinch River and Powell River in the Tennessee River basin exceeded those previously known. Severe flooding also occurred along the Holston River and along the North Fork Kentucky River. Recurrence intervals of observed flood discharges were greater than those for 100 years at 29 streamflow-measurement sites. Substantial reductions in peak stages and discharges on Levisa Fork, North Pound River, and Guyandotte River, attained as a result of reservoir storage, were reported by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Maximum daily suspended-sediment discharges on April 5, 1977, on Guyandotte River near Baileysville, W. Va., and Tug Fork at Glenhayes, W. Va., were 54,800 tons/day and 290,000 tons/day, respectively. Twenty-two lives were lost and total property damages reportedly exceed $400 million in the four-State area.” (USGS/Runner) and NWS, NOAA/Chin). Flood of April 1977 in the Appalachian Region of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, 1980, p. 1.)

USGS: “Significant flooding did not occur in 1977 until early April when eastern parts of the Ohio River Basin were inundated by a storm producing excessive amounts of rain. The headwaters of the Kanawha, Guyandotte, Big Sandy, Kentucky, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers located in southern West Virginia, southeastern Kentucky, extreme western Virginia, and northeastern Tennessee were most affected by the storm… Rainfall amounts of between 4 and 15.5 in. fell over the western slopes of the Appalachian Mountains (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1977). The maximum rainfall occurred in southwestern West Virginia, over a period of about 30 hours. The 15.5 in. of rainfall was considerably more than the 5.5 in. expected for the 24-hour, 100-year recurrence-interval storm. Record flooding was recorded on the Guyandotte River at Baileysville, West Virginia (station 03202400… and all along the Tug Fork River. Flood discharges at some locations were greater than the 100-year recurrence interval.

“Many small streams in the headwaters of the Tennessee River recorded new maximum discharges of record. No large cities were affected by the flooding, but a number of small towns and populated rural areas were severely damaged; 15 counties in Kentucky, 6 in Tennessee, 17 in Virginia, and 11 in West Virginia were declared Federal disaster areas. There were 22 deaths, and total damages were estimated at $430 million. About 40,000 families were affected in the four-State area (Runner and Chin, 1980 ).” (USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in…US, PR…VI, 1970 Through 1989. 2008.)

Newspapers

April 6: “Rain-swollen rivers inundated towns in the hilly Appalachians Tuesday cutting communications and forcing thousands to evacuate or wait for rescue. At least 28 persons had been killed by rain and wind storms in the region.

“The worst flooding was in southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, where the Cumberland, Dig Sandy and Kentucky river topped floodwalls built to protect cities. “This will be the highest flood ever recorded on the upper Cumberland,” the National Weather Service said.
“I’d say it’s the worst in 40 years,” said Lou Bondurant, a Red Cross spokesman in Louisville. “Hundreds of people are being taken lo shelters. Thousands of people are out of their homes.”

“The flooding Tug Fork, a tributary of the Big Sandy, forced the 500 residents of the town of Matewan, near Williamson on the Kentucky border, to flee their homes. Some were reported trapped Tuesday on upper floors of taller structures. A reporter who reached Matewan Tuesday afternoon reported a few two-story houses poking above the water but the rest of the town completely covered. Many houses had tipped over. T. I Varney, a former West Virginia legislator, said the flood meant the end of the town. “1 don’t believe there’ll be any fixing back. I believe this is finished, he said.” Wilson Cisco spent the night in a boat rescuing, stranded Matewan residents. “They were screaming and hollering all over the place,” he said.

“The flooding killed at last four persons in Kentucky, two in West Virginia and two in Virginia; an additional five persons were reported missing in Virginia a before communications were lost in flooded areas.

“Patients at a hospital in Welch, W.Va., were moved to upper floors when the Tug Fork poured into the town, flooding the first floor. Methodist Hospital in Pikeville, Ky., on the Big. Sandy, was surrounded by water, and emergency patients had to be brought in by boat.

“Pineville, Ky., a town of nearly 3,000, was reported covered by 15 feet of water after the Cumberland rose 18 feet above flood stage and poured over the floodwall.

“Williamson, W.Va., with 12,000 residents, was completely cut off from the outside world except for a radio in a forest lookout tower. The weather service predicted a flood crest there of 52-54 feet, 25-27 feet above flood stage and 10 feet above 1963’s record crest. Bob Harvit, general manager of Williamson radio station WBTH, said he watched an elderly man standing in rushing water up to his neck and clinging to the side of the radio station building. “I rushed up front and had our announcer begin a plea for a boat,” he said. One soon arrived. “We don’t know who got him, but it was just in time.”

“The governors of Virginia and Kentucky declared disaster areas in their states The flooding was caused by nearly five inches of rainfall which the National Weather Service said would be followed by temperatures in the 30s. In both Kentucky and West Virginia, a chance of snow and below freezing weather were forecast for Wednesday….

“Virginia’s Department of Highways and Transportation said nearly 200 highways were blocked. It also said at least 18 bridges were known destroyed, and at least 52 more were out of service….

“Water in Williamson covered the roofs of some homes in low-lying areas. Residents of Barbourville and Williamsburg in extreme southern Kentucky were warned Tuesday to evacuate to higher ground as flood crests rolled toward them.” (Oil City Derrick (PA). “Floods Drive Thousands From Homes,” April 6, 1977, p. 15.)

Kentucky

April 5: “Four persons were killed in Kentucky, where flooding was said to be the worst in 40 years, and the Big Sandy River was expected to cause further destruction as it reached a crest above flood stage today. Officials said that Harlan was virtually submerged but for a small knoll in the town’s center and was without power or drinking water.” (North Adams Transcript (MA). “Tornado Storm Kills 19 in Alabama.” April 5, 1977. p. 1.)

Virginia

April 5: “Virginia Gov. Mills Godwin declared a state of emergency in the southwestern part of his state, where at least one person died and where National Guard troops were continuing efforts to rescue thousands of residents stranded by high water.” (North Adams Transcript, MA. “Tornado Storm Kills 19 in Alabama.” April 5, 1977. p. 1.)

April 7: “[VA] Gov. Mills Godwin, who toured the ravaged region Tuesday, asked President Carter Wednesday to declare 13 counties and one city a disaster area. He said preliminary damage estimates compiled in only six counties so far totaled more than $100 million. The governor also said in his letter that seven deaths have been reported and “many persons arc missing”.” (Danville Register (VA). “Cleanup Begins As Flood Waters Return to Banks,” 7 Apr 1977, 1.)

West Virginia

April 11: “Charleston, W.Va. (AP)– A flood damage survey taken by the American Red Cross reveals at least 489 small businesses were lost or severely damaged and 5,806 families suffered property damage in last week’s heavy flooding in Southern West Virginia.

“The Red Cross also said Sunday at least 393 private homes were totally destroyed in a nine-county area ravaged by the flood, while an additional 1,089 dwellings suffered major damage.

“Ray Carmichael, an American Red Cross official, says the estimates are based on a survey taken by the Red Cross beginning last Wednesday. He said the charitable organization conducts the surveys in nearly all of the major disasters it works in order to make long range plans for its relief efforts. “The surveys are generally very accurate,” said Carmichael. “Since we need the information to prepare for our long-range efforts, we take great care to make sure the figures are accurate.”

“Carmichael said the number of small businesses lost – almost all of which are in the Williamson area — is particularly high. “That’s a hell of a tot of businesses (485) to be lost,” Carmichael said. “That shows you how quickly the flood waters came up around Williamson.”

“The nine counties surveyed for damages included Mingo, McDowell, Logan, Wayne, Raleigh, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Mercer, and Wyoming. All were included in President Carter’s declaration of a national disaster area, which was requested by Gov. Jay Rockefeller.

“The Red Cross’ figures show a total of 17,854 West Virginians needed temporary shelter at one time or another last week, indicating that many were homeless for at least a day because of the flooding.

“A total of 3,290 homes suffered at least minimal damage – in addition to the 393 totally lost and the 1,069 that suffered heavy damage. Some 147 mobile homes were also lost or destroyed, while 81 apartments suffered heavy damage or loss….” (Beckley Post-Herald (WV). “Survey Totals Flood Losses,” April 11, 1977, pp. 1 & 3.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Flood Damage Runs into Millions of Dollars,” 4-9-1977. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=77848285

Associated Press. “Flooding,” 4-7-1977. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=95093596

Beckley Post-Herald, WV. “Survey Totals Flood Losses,” 4-11-1977, pp. 1 & 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=87242697

Burlington Times-News, NC. “Floods’ Effects Remain,” April 8, 1977, p. 2A. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=15158001

Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1982.

Daily Times-News, Burlington, NC. “Flooding: Appalachian Residents Throw Up Sandbags as Water Drives Thousands From Homes,” April 6 1977, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=44852114

Danville Register, VA. “Cleanup Begins As Flood Waters Return to Banks,” 4-7-1977, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=101652366

Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

North Adams Transcript, MA. “Tornado Storm Kills 19 in Alabama.” April 5, 1977. p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=62477115

Oil City Derrick, PA. “Floods Drive Thousands From Homes; W. Virginia, Kentucky Towns Are Inundated.” April 6, 1977, p. 15. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=66249727

United States Geological Survey (Gerald S. Runner) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Edwin H. Chin). Flood of April 1977 in the Appalachian Region of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia (Geological Survey Professional Paper 1098). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1980. Accessed 4-28-2020 at: https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1098/report.pdf

United States Geological Survey. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, 1970 Through 1989 (Water-Supply Paper 2502). USGS Kansas Water Science Center, Sep 17, 2008. Accessed 11-12-2016 at: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/reports/wsp.2502.contents.html#HDR1