Flood in Virginia, March 17 to 18, 2002

Dickenson County was on the northern fringe of an area of heavy rain that hit Tennessee, southeast Kentucky, and southwest Virginia late on Sunday the 17th and into the early morning hours of Monday the 18th. Rains of 2.5 to 3.5 inches fell over the southern portion of the county in less than 24 hours. An automated rain gauge near Herald measured 3.1 inches, while one gauge near Trammel had 2.8 inches. The cooperative observer at Clintwood had 2.6 inches. Earlier rains, on the 16th into the 17th, helped moisten the ground, prior to this event. The McClure River and its tributaries flooded roads. On the order of 20 to 30 people were evacuated as a precaution. Most of these evacuations were along Route 83 near Clincho. Some basement flooding occurred. The county emergency director reported one mobile home in Nora received water damage. Two private bridges were also destroyed in the county. State highway crews noted several washed out drain pipes, especially along Route 637. The county declared a local emergency, followed by a state of emergency by Governor Warner. A few shelters were open. On April 2nd, President Bush included Dickenson County into FEMA disaster declaration 1406. The declaration had a total of 8 Virginia counties for individual assistance.