Middle Fork Buffalo Creek, Saunders, West Virginia, Volume 1, February 1973. A separate settlement for survivors amounted to about $13,000 per plaintiff. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Children walk along the tracks in what remains of their community along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972, The people are prisoners of the coal industry.. But this dam dam No. I love it, said Jacob Turkale, 25, who caught a rainbow trout Tuesday. In just a few brief moments, 125 people were killed, 1,100 were injured, and over 4,000 were left without homes [1] as the result of a collapsed coal waste dam. Children of Disaster: Clinical Observations at Buffalo Creek, American Journal of Psychiatry, March 1976, pp.306-12. West Virginias Secretary of State at the time, Jay Rockefeller (D) who became a candidate for Governor running against Arch Moore in the 1972 fall election also favored banning strip mining. July 14, 1970West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (WVDNR) Inspector What was the settlement in the Buffalo Creek disaster? In the early morning hours of Saturday, February 26th, 1972, after three days of rain, a series of coal slurry impoundments in the upper reaches of the Buffalo Creek watershed in Logan County, West Virginia, were beginning to weaken. The U.S. West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History. Click for copy. 4, Special Focus: Special issue on Post Disaster Societies (2011), pp. Thomas Andrews' "Killing for Coal". Buffalo Creek Coal Mine, Logan County, WV Written at SFSU in 2017 About 45 years ago, at the U.S.' coal mining peak, the country had one of its worst mining-related disasters at Buffalo Creek, Logan County, West Virginia [1]. Suite 401 Pierce. Mary Walton, Triangle of Blame Placed in Disaster, Charleston Gazette, May 30, 1972, p.1. More than a dozen towns were inundated and 125 people lost their lives. Have a correction or comment about this article? But it brings back memories. Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson, Many Coal Sludge Impoundments Have Weak Walls, Federal Study Says, Washington Post, April 24, 2013. Kanawha County Bar Association voted to investigate Arnold & Porters alleged If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. 242-246, Appalachian Journal, Vol. The association bought habitat structures to further help form the pools that trout prefer. When that report came out it called for new legislation and further inquiry by the local prosecutor, also concluding: Norm Williams, Deputy Director, WV-DNR & Citizens' Commission chairman. Gertie Moore, a former Logan County Schools bus driver, tearfully recalls two children who perished in the Buffalo Creek Flood during a memorial service at the Buffalo Creek Memorial Library on Friday, Feb. 24. There was a problem saving your notification. 2023 West Virginia University. miners. In 2002, Alpha Natural Resources purchased what remained of Pttstons coal business. Media Blow Held Worse Than Flood, Charleston Gazette, March 8, 1972. They are used to hard times. JSTOR, the JSTOR logo, and ITHAKA are registered trademarks of ITHAKA. Emery Jeffreys (former reporter for The Logan Banner; account of his early flood-site reporting), Mud, Muck and Misery, LoganWV.us, February 27, 2018. Tom Nugent, Death at Buffalo Creek: The 1972 West Virginia Flood Disaster, New York: Norton, 1973. ensued. This mining activity, though in the past, had stripped away the water-absorbing forest undergrowth, thus increasing surface run-off during heavy precipitation. 28 (S.D. Jack Spadaro, a mine safety investigator and environmental specialist, has made it his lifes work to prevent such disasters from happening again. Arlington, VA 22202-5450www.msha.govTTY202-693-9400, Quarterly Training Calls & Stakeholder Meetings, The goal of MSHAs impoundment program continues to help ensure that. 1972About 5,000 people lived in the Buffalo Creek holler including 1,000 It also held coal reserves of 1.5 billion tons, mostly high-grade metallurgical coal used in steel-making. The Buffalo Creek flood was a disaster that occurred on February 26, 1972, when the Pittston Coal Company's coal slurry impoundment dam #3, located on a hillside in Logan County, West Virginia, burst, four days after having been declared 'satisfactory' by a federal mine inspector. It ripped homes from their foundations, swept up cars, mobile homes, and bridges, and even left twisted rail lines in a few places before it finished its destructive run over 17 miles to the Guyandotte River. The report also noted the possibility that water and coal wastes in abandoned underground mines could break through auger holes and flow into the impoundment behind dam #3, as the practice of disposing coal sludges in abandoned underground mines had occurred in other areas of the state, with sludges breaking through to the surface in some cases. The Buffalo Creek Disaster: How the Survivors of One of the Worst Disasters in Coal-Mining History Brought Suit Against the Coal Company- And Won. Senator Ed Muskie (D-NH) in one photo, then running for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination, shown campaigning ahead of the New Hampshire primary. In 1854, he married Margaretha Weidner (1832-1910). Field Foundation proposed a resolution that Pittston should spend more money to Many homes were lost during the Buffalo Creek mining disaster in 1972. Senator). U.S. map showing locations of coal ash waste dams, spills, and contamination compiled by Earth Justice. Based on the testimony obtained from hearings, technical reports and our own field inspection, the Commission concludes that: Dam No. He lives in my building. The huge wall of coal wastewater was 30 feet high and 550 feet wide as it gouged its way down the hollow, first smashing through Saunders and then, successively through Pardee, Lorado, Londale, and a dozen other small villages in the narrow creek valley. Four years after the disaster, in 1976, about 100 families were still living in the government provided mobile homes. Mimi Pickering, my wife, made two documentary films about the disaster. dam will hold. As if some foreign enemy had flown in and nuked the place. C.J. The Buffalo Creek (W.Va.) flood is one of the most extensively examined and longest followed disasters in the psychiatric study of trauma. State officials requested a few minor alterations to the impoundment. For the flood that followed the collapse of West Virginia's Buffalo Creek Dam in 1972like the one in Idahowas a manmade "natural disaster." It killed 125 people and left hundreds of coal. 51 years later, memories still haunt survivors of Buffalo Creek flood. He said he feels his experience with the flood is what led him to lead that lifestyle. the front to drag them to paradise california. One lawsuit was filed by the state of West Virginia, while another class action lawsuit was filed by survivors of the flood. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. At approximately 8 a.m. on Feb. 26, 1972, a man-made coal slurry impoundment dam, which was operated by the Pittston Coal Company, burst following a prolonged period of heavy rainfall. You know, its not like your house burned down, Hall said. Twenty-seven years of follow-up research by teams of both . Richard Martin's 2015 book, "Coal Wars". In 2005, the ecosystem took another hit when water blew out of an abandoned coal mine, turning the creek green. [I]n true Appalachian fashion, few people are ready to accept the responsibility of leadership is another. Dredging by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helped but did nothing to support trout habitat. One retired coal miner who survived the flood, but who lost his wife, daughter and granddaughter in the disaster, explained what he experienced in one. Map of Buffalo Creek communities in 1972 shown with disaster summary inset. Afterward, the survivors informally sit and talk about their memories from the flood and how it affected their lives. West Virginia has the most with 108. himself from the case because of his friendship with Pittstons president. In addition to its coal debris, the slurry wave picked up an abrasive and destructive mixture of semi-rotten trees, rocks, and sediment as it went, gouging out the land and becoming a more lethal force capable of battering and sweeping away all in its path. A few helicopters were used initially until local miners and others, and the National Guard, began clearing debris and building makeshift roads and bridges. "Coal: A Human History", 2016 edition. Refuse Dumps at Coal Mines, discouraging the use of coal refuse dumps as dams. Me driving a bus, I knew about 80% of these people, and every name that went by, I can visualize them at that time, Moore said. It goes between the hospital and the high school and I remember when we got off, these people run up to us and they was writing down our names to get a recovery list for people that made it, and needless to say, there was groups of people that were sent there.. In the wake of this disaster, Congress asked the National Research Council to examine ways to reduce the potential for similar accidents in the future, and their report appeared in October 2001, recommending the federal government establish clear authority to review the stability of such impoundments, improve regulation, establish minimum distance rules, and undertake more complete mapping of existing and abandoned underground mines. 2 had ever been formally approved by the state. Moore shared stories of two young children Darla Dillon, 5, and David Adkins Jr., 4, both of Lorado who perished in the flood. By 1972, the third dam ranged from 45-to-60 feet in height, and the Middle Fork had become a series of black pools. One newspaper, reporting on the study and the Senate hearings, used the headlines Army Corps of Engineers Says Dam Doomed From Start (below). Williams wasnt alone in pointing to the ravages of strip mining. Vicki Smith, Feds OK Coal Slurry Dam Expansion, GazetteMail.com, March 25, 2013. And people died instantly when that tidal wave came through the valley.. Support JSTOR Daily! West Virginia Governor's report: "The Buffalo Creek Flood And Disaster". Then in December 2008 a second major impoundment breach occurred this time, a failure of a giant 84-acre coal ash impoundment at the Tennessee Valley Authoritys (TVA) Kingston Fossil Plant in eastern Tennessee (photo above). 1929). JSTOR Daily readers can access the original research behind our articles for free on JSTOR. August 8, 1972Congress passed the National Dam Inspection Act. of Inquiry into the Buffalo Creek Floods documents. February 1972. And this was just another little installment in the progression of a hard life, I guess., Congressman Ken Hechler put it a little more bluntly. Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 4 million WordPress sites. George Vecsey, Two Rival Inquiries Are Begun into Flood in West Virginia, New York Times, March 12, 1972, p. 70. The other, David Adkins Jr., he was the same age five he hadnt started school either, but every evening, he was out and back then, they put braces in a fence and hed sit right in that brace and hed watch that bus every evening like he was saying, Next year, Im going to ride that bus. He didnt make it. A Town Stood Here, Life, October 10, 1972. The citizens commission report, formally titled. March 2, 1973Judge Hall holds hearing on Pittstons motion to dismiss The news of the Buffalo Creek Disaster broke variously across the nation the next few days, in part due to the difficulty of getting to the site. January 1, 1971Pittstons umbrella insurance underwriters imposed a $1 3 was being filled at a rate of about 1,000 tons of refuse a day, carried from the coal preparation plant to the dam in 30-ton trucks. Long after the Feb. 26, 1972, disaster, the poisoned creek had no life. 2. Buffalo Creek disaster remembered 40 years later The Associated Press The Associated Press Feb 27, 2012 The Tri-State's TRUSTED news source. BMCthen builds dam #2. That deal would dog Moore for the rest of his career. An accounting of the disaster, and multiple investigations, would then proceed to piece together what had happened there, focused on the coal mining and dam building. He reported there was no danger of a washout of Dam No. there wasnt any flood. In an out of court settlement, the survivors were awarded $13.5 million, $6 million of which was distributed on the basis of a point system as compensation for the psychological damages. Vintage. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Immediately following the failure at Buffalo Creek, representatives from the Bureau of Mines and the U.S. Geological Survey formed a task force to study coal waste hazards. [I]f you dont do something, she wrote, prophetically, were all going to be washed away. Her letter did bring a state inspector to visit the dams. JSTOR is a digital library for scholars, researchers, and students. Gazette-Mail/L. amzn_assoc_asins = "0821415565,1467135496,0345543254,0618872248"; Although influential, the book overlooks the impressive resiliency and advocacy demonstrated by many survivors within the community. The goal of MSHAs impoundment program continues to help ensure that: Impoundments constructed by the coal industry are designed to accepted dam safety standards. April 1, 1974 Pittston moved to dismiss absent plaintiffs, plaintiffs claiming psychic injury while they were physically away from Buffalo Creek during the flood. Leading off the testimony before the Senate Subcommittee was Garth Fuquay of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (shown in above photo), who had been detailed to the subcommittee to help guide the committee in its investigation. The moving wall of wastewater did its damage in seconds, in repeated fashion, as it moved down the hollow. He was heavily involved in writing federal regulations and beefed-up criteria for the construction of coal waste dams and their maintenance. (3) U.S. Congress. We saw the water lift up our house, said Enda Baisden Short, recalling for The Herald Dispatch of Huntington, West Virginia that she and her husband had run from their home early that Saturday morning just prior to coal waste flood. You build them up with a bunch of political propaganda.., he said, also suggesting that the coal operators money installed the politicians in Washington, and then, you dont care nothing about us., Not long after the dams had burst, and the flood waters had raged through the Buffalo Creek communities, Pittstons New York public relations office, attempting to absolve the company from legal responsibility, issued a news release stating that the flood was an act of God. The dam, said the Pittston officials, was simply incapable of holding the water God poured into it.. May 1, 1974Discovery deadline. The "suspenseful and completely absorbing story" (San Francisco Chronicle) of how survivors of the worst coal-mining disaster in history triumphed over corporate irresponsibilitywritten by the young lawyer who took on their case and won.One Saturday morning in February 1972, an impoundment dam owned by the Pittston Coal Company burst, sending a 130 million gallon, 25 foot tidal wave of . Death, Destruction, Terror of 1972 Buffalo Creek Disaster Still Vivid, The Herald-Dispatch, January 15, 2009. Murder in Appalachian, The Nation, March 20, 1972. Because of the downpour, nearly 50 acre-feet of fresh water filled the pool of Dam No. He spoke with residents, including a woman who said she lost eighteen relatives in the flood. NovemberSpecial grand jury led by two special prosecuting attorneys (includingWVUCollege Part of that is to tell the survivors' story, to make it impossible . Erikson, Disaster at Buffalo Creek. 1 & 2. I told you this was going to happen, he said, I told you. He had voted for Randolph, but was frustrated with the political process and how the locals were regarded by most politicians. for authority to build a $350 million oil refinery and tanker terminal. The experts concluded that the victims suffered from SOUTH MAN Sunday marked 51 years since the Buffalo Creek Disaster, the worst flood in West Virginias history. Sunshine and clouds mixed. Williams explained that such mining was only viable because the state allowed it to externalize costs i.e., impose its pollution, mine wastes, and environmental damage on landowners and the general public. Many in the downstream communities were keenly aware of the unstable nature of these impoundments, and expressed their concern to government officials. In fact, there had already been signs of trouble at the dams, which should have raised alarms and efforts at corrective construction. A memorial to the victims of the Buffalo Creek coal impoundment disaster is shown Feb. 22, 2022, in Kistler, W.Va. On Feb. 26, 1972, a makeshift impoundment dam collapsed, sending millions of. The association used settlement money to start fixing the creek. Click for copy. (1972). Robert Shogan's 2004 book, "The Battle of Blair Mountain". In 1971, Pittston was cited for over 5,000 safety violations at its mines nationally. 2 gave way, quickly followed by Dam No. Local high school students were brought in by the busload, helping them to fulfill the 40 hours of community service required to graduate. The Concept 2 . The .gov means its official. WVPB News. Tim Hall, left, explains how the events of the Buffalo Creek Flood shaped his life during a memorial service at the Buffalo Creek Memorial Library on Friday, Feb. 24. Note mud lines on the building at left, marking flood level. Get your fix of JSTOR Dailys best stories in your inbox each Thursday. Arnold and Porter noticed Pittstons president and vice-presidents depositions I wouldve took a gunshot or anything. Nader was also quoted saying: The Buffalo Creek massacre is only one more in the long series of tragedies which coal corporations have perpetrated upon the people of Appalachia, especially of West Virginia.. J.L. He said the impoundment failure at Buffalo Creek was accompanied by multiple warnings. It took just over 15 minutes. December 17, 1971WVDNR Inspector recommended an emergency spillway on ofBMC. Men and women, children and animals were floating in that high wall of water.. Survivors of 1972 Dam Disaster Accept $13.5-Million Settlement, New York Times, July 6, 1974. What happened after the Buffalo Creek disaster? In 1974, the 645 Buffalo Creek residents suing Pittston Coal settled for $13.5 million, which amounted to approximately $13,000 paid out to each plaintiff. of Law Dean Willard Lorensen) brings no criminal indictments against Pittston. Penny Loeb's 2007 book, "Moving Mountains". October 6, 1982: Buffalo Creek flood settlement. But his youngest son and daughter and his wife were among the missing. Wallace Adkins of Robinette, tried to escape the on-rushing wall of water by loading up his family car. More than 507 homes were destroyed, along with 44 mobile homes and 30 businesses. Nearly 50 years later, there are still hundreds of coal waste dams to worry about, as well as other assorted coal waste dangers throughout the U.S. Everything in Its Path:Destruction of Community in the Buffalo Creek Flood (1976), a non-fiction book by American author Kai T. Erikson, won the 1978 National Book Award for documenting the aftermath of the Buffalo Creek flood disaster in Logan County, West Virginia which killed 125 people and left 4,000 people homeless out of a 5,000-person local population. They were filled to capacity, holding tons of coal wastewater. In March 1967, a partial collapse at one of the dams caused some flooding in the hollow, alarming residents already concerned about the structures. I found the use of . On the morning of February 26, 1972, the failure of three coal slurry dams let loose a tidal wave of destruction upon the Buffalo Creek hollow in Logan county, West Virginia. One resident at the scene, later quoted in in Kai T. Eriksons book, Everything in Its Path, noted of the onrushing tide: This water, when it came down through here, it acted real funny. .. More than 100 people died in southern West Virginia when a dam failed. Alvid Davis was working outside his home in the community of Stowe when he looked up and saw the flood waters coming, according to an Associated Press report of February 28, 1972. You talk about another terror, a man goes from high water and being scared to being up in the sky, so I went through that, Pierson said. At approximately 8 a.m., a coal waste dam collapsed on the Middle Fork of Buffalo Creek, releasing 132 million gallons of water, coal refuse, and silt into the narrow mountain valley. . And people die. not in the Prince lawsuit filed in federal district court. Buffalo Creek, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, 2012. International television coverage of the American Civil Rights struggle was critical in the construction of racial identity and experience in postwar Britain. At the time of Pittstons acquisition of Buffalo Mining, Dam No. In a 2012 interview, Porterfield said: [I]t looked like a battlefield. Through the 1940s coal mining and coal washing including dumping coal refuse and coal wash water occurred in the area of the Middle Fork, one of three headwater streams that formed Buffalo Creek. G. ERALD . Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Headlines from 'The Springfield Republican' of Massachusetts, report on the 'W.Va. Published opinion, Am. dumping coal refuse into the mouth of Middle Fork hollow. Somewhere down in this valley I was born, Breiding sings on the album, adopting the persona of a fourth-generation coal miner who never left home. (1976). Some survivors reported homes exploding or splintering apart with the wave's impact. Stern describes victims losing family members before their eyes, and the devastation caused by the flood. 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