Flash Flood in West Virginia, May 16 to 17, 1996

The warm front, that caused flash flooding 24 hours earlieracross the southern coal fields, lifted northeast. Smallbut intense showers and thunderstorms trained southeast.Rains of 2.5 to 3.5 inches were common in about 6 hours alonga narrow corridor from Tyler County to Randolph and northern Pocahontas Counties. In the headwaters of the Middle Fork River4 to 5 inches of rain fell around Cassity and Adolph. The ground had been saturated by previous rains. As was the case in southern West Virginia, fatalities and more damage were caused by the small stream and the headwaters of rivers, rather than the mainstem rivers. Two deaths occurred in Cassidy. A woman tried to get hermother out of a house surrounded by water. A neighborsaw the 2 women trying to flee the home around 0100 ESTon the 17th. They failed to reach a vehicle and the floodwaters of Middle Fork River swept them away. Their bodieswere found about 100 feet downstream, trapped against afence and tree. The community of Ellamore was evacuatedaround 0200 EST. Later, the river reached a recordcrest of 15.9 feet at Audra. The Elk Creek caused damage in Harrison County, whileShavers Fork damaged camping trailers around Bowden.Many roads, including Route 219 were heavily damagedby the flash flooding.Later, the Tygart Valley River flooded areas aroundElkins, Belington, and Philippi. The crest of 27.6 feetat Philippi was the second highest this century. At Belington the crest of 20.2 feet was the third highestthis century. In both Belington and Philippi, the downtownarea saw the water depth reach about 2 to 3 feet. The Tygart Valley Dam at Grafton held back water, causing the lake elevationto reach 1156.13 feet on the 19th, only 6 inches shortof the record pool elevation.On the Greenbrier River, Durbin crested at 15.5 feet, Marlinton14.5 feet, and Buckeye 17.4 feet. Flooding was significanton the upper reaches around Thornwood, Bartow, and Durbin.The crest dampened south of Cass. The crest at Marlinton wasabout 4 feet lower than in January, but still flooded manydowntown businesses again.The West Fork River crested at 17.2 feet at Clarksburg.President Clinton's major disaster declaration includedBarbour, Harrison, Pocahontas, Randolph, and Upshur Counties.