1985 Election Day Flood
The 1985 Election Day Flood was a devastating event that occurred on November 5, 1985. Rick Felton, a CSX brakeman, recalled the sound of metal on metal, but nothing could have prepared him for the shriek that filled the night before the flood.
Hurricane Juan, which had spiraled down to a tropical depression, merged with another storm system over the Mid-Atlantic, resulting in catastrophic consequences. The flood claimed the lives of 47 West Virginians and caused over $700 million in damages in the Mountain State alone.
That’s when people started realizing they were in for it. That’s when Hurricane Juan decided it wasn’t going gentle.
The disaster was a result of the unexpected comeback of Hurricane Juan, which was thought to have dissipated. The storm's impact was felt across the region, leaving a trail of destruction and ruin in its wake.
Author's summary: Flood devastates West Virginia in 1985.