Flash Flood, Kanawha
- When
- August 28, 5:30 AM EST to 11:00 AM EST
- Where
- Kanawha County, 1.32 mi ESE of Hernshaw to 2.49 mi N of Monarch
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $4.5 million
- Reported by
- NWS Storm Survey
- Coordinates
- 38.212, -81.578
Extensive flooding damage was observed in different neighborhoods within the Chelyan and Cedar Grove townships.
On the Cedar Grove side of the Kanawha River, many homes were surrounded by water as Kelleys Creek rose out of its banks. The NWS Storm Survey crew noted a few areas along Horsemill Hollow Road that were washed out as the creek curved in and around the roadway. Department of Highways crews were quickly attempting to put gravel on the road to ensure a way for citizens that live up along Horsemill Hollow Road to evacuate, otherwise they were trapped due to the obstruction of the road. A water rescue was conducted on William Street as parts of East Dupont Avenue also were inundated with water.
In Witcher Creek, main structural damage was noted to be storage sheds coming off of its foundation due to the intensity of the high water, some of which also entered into a trailer home along Witcher Creek Road. This house was deemed to have major damage as much of the items of the home were destroyed and being thrown out. A handful of cars were also lodged into Witcher Creek and were waiting to be removed as the Storm Survey team passed through the area.
Traveling up the road along Route 60, a few other trouble spots arose in between Chesapeake, Belle, and Dickinson. High water laid along the parking lot of Riverside High School, causing the school, and other local elementary schools that dealt with high water issues, to close for the day.
Another area that was hit hard by the heavy rain was on the other side of the Kanawha River in Chelyan. Slaughter Creek and Little Creek quickly rose out of their banks and resulted in major flooding along the local roadways, including Slaughter Creek Road, Little Creek Road, Cooper Hollow Road, and Fields Creek Road. This area of the county was where the most substantial flooding seemed to have occurred, with three local homes destroyed due to the high water levels.
In the area of Fields Creek, a trailer was ripped off of its foundation at the entrance of Fields Creek Road and looked to have been transported a few feet away when the creek was out of its banks. Several cars were submerged in the mud along Fields Creek Road and a few low lying homes observed major flooding in their basements and garages. Old Glory Road was also completely washed out.
Due to the close proximity of Little Creek Church to Little Creek, the damage was noted to be unsalvageable and would likely have to be demolished. The Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department, located along Cooper Hollow Road and Old Glory Road, suffered substantial structural damage as a result of the creek rising out of its banks, most likely condemning the building along with losing the fire engine that was stored in the garage of the station. Local residents that live up Cooper Hollow Road were trapped for over 24 hours in their homes as a result of the road becoming washed out.
Outside of the three homes, fire station, and church being destroyed, 22 homes were deemed to have major flooding damage, and an additional 88 homes who observed minor flooding issues.