The Setup

The setup for the devastating flood in Southwest Virginia in 1985 actually began in the days prior to the flood itself. A storm system fueled by the remnants from Tropical Storm Juan led to heavy rainfall along the Blue Ridge for several days prior to November 4th.

This resulted in a perfect “recipe for disaster”. The ground throughout our region had been heavily saturated by days of consistent rainfall. Similar to a sponge that can’t hold any more water, the ground created perfect flood conditions, and rivers and creeks were also swollen.

The Flood

On the morning of November 4th, 1985, the skies unleashed torrential rainfall throughout the region. In fact, over 4 inches fell in just 3 short hours. Several rivers, including the Roanoke and the James rivers, crested over 13

See Full Page