Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Destroyed homes and businesses are piled up against each other in the Dingess Hollow area of Lorado after the Buffalo Creek Dam broke on Feb. 26, 1972.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The Buffalo Mining Company continued to operate after the flood of 1972, until 1993. They piled their slade in the same spot as before but didn't stockpile water behind it. In 1999, it stood deserted and overgrown.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
A young boy surveys the damage as cleanup begins after the Buffalo Creek Dam broke in Feb. 26, 1972.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Children walk along the tracks in what remains of their community along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
A child sits on the tracks in what is left of his community along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
A group of men attempt to warm themselves by a fire amid the destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Mary Ann Osborne remembers her 10-year-old-son running into the house yelling "Mommy, mommy, mommy, the water's coming." Iin a snap, everything they owned was gone.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972, included not only residential structures but several mining operations such as this one in the process of being demolished. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972, included not only residential structures but several mining operations such as this one in the process of being demolished. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
An aerial view of part of the flooded area of Buffalo Creek shows the damage and destruction suffered by many. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives and another 1,100 were injured.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Edith Bucy, whose husband was carried to safety by Bill Aldridge, inspects the damage in the lower end of Lorado with Lester Weese just days after the Buffalo Creek Flood of Feb. 26, 1972.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
An aerial view of part of the flooded area of Buffalo Creek shows relief workers among the damage and destruction suffered by many. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
An aerial view of part of the flooded area of Buffalo Creek shows the damage and destruction suffered by many. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
An aerial view of part of the flooded area of Buffalo Creek shows the damage and destruction suffered by many. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The Buffalo Mining Company continued to operate after the flood of 1972, until 1993. They piled their slade in the same spot as before but didn't stockpile water behind it. In 1999, it stood deserted and overgrown.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
An aerial view of part of the flooded area of Buffalo Creek shows the damage and destruction suffered by many. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Aerial view of where the dam failed just east of Saunders. Buffalo Creek runs westward along the far left branch. Lee Fork is on the middle right. The Middle Fork, where the three dams were situated, shows an empty reservoir.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Eddie Maynard recalls Billy Aldridge's warnings that the dam had broken. He and his father returned to Lorado. As they approached the intersection of Toney Fork Road and Buffalo Creek, his father ordered him to "Put the car in reverse, and go backward as fast as you can." The wall of black water was closing in.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Families walk through what is left of their community along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives, 1,100 were injured and 4,000 were left homeless.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Nestled beneath a pine tree is a grave stone of one of six members of the Osborne that died Feb. 26, 1972, in the Buffalo Creek Disaster.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Forest Jude, a resident of Curtis, W.Va., is Buffalo Creek Flood survivor.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
A memorial dedicated to the 125 friends and family lost to the Buffalo Creek flood stands in a fenced-in park in Kistler, W.Va.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Billy Aldridge describes how the 60-foot-high wall of black water wiped down the hollow, destroying the towns of Saunders and Pardee as well as leaving parts of Lorado gone.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Vekma Woodrum sits with her dog in the middle off the desolation after the Buffalo Creek Dam broke on Feb. 26, 1972.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
An aerial view of part of the flooded area of Buffalo Creek shows the damage and destruction. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives and another 1,100 were injured.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
An aerial view of part of the flooded area of Buffalo Creek shows the damage and destruction. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives and another 1,100 were injured.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
An aerial view of part of the flooded area of Buffalo Creek shows the damage and destruction. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives and another 1,100 were injured.
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
The destruction along Buffalo Creek on Feb. 27, 1972. During the flood, 125 people lost their lives and another 1,100 were injured.
Copyright 1999 The Herald-Dispat
File photo/The Herald-Dispatch
Billy Aldridge visits the memorial dedicated to 125 people who lost their lives to the Buffalo Creek Flood.
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