Flash Flood in West Virginia, September 6, 1996

The remnants of Hurricane Fran moved through eastern West Virginia during the late afternoon of the 6th, preceded by torrential rains which caused widespread and in some cases catastrophic flooding. Property and crop damage was most substantial in the Potomac Highlands where flooding was severe. Evacuations were required once again in portions of Hardy, Hampshire, and Pendleton Counties. Two persons died directly from the floods. In Grant Co, a man drove a tractor into flood waters and was swept away to his death. A young man drove an automobile into flood waters in Pendleton Co, and was swept away as well.Property and crop damage was less severe in the Panhandle - a combination of lesser rain totals and fewer mountainous areas. Storm total rainfall ranged from 3 to 5 inches in the panhandle; 5 to 8 inches in the Potomac Highlands. However, a thin band of 11 to 14 inches fell at the highest elevations. In the panhandle, approximately 600 acres of corn were lost to the flood. Some livestock were also lost. Though corn crop losses were extensive for the event, the effect of the loss only thinned out a bumper crop for the season.See the River Flood section for further information.