Failure of Dam No. 3 on the Middle Fork of Buffalo Creek near Saunders, West Virginia on February 26, 1972 (1972)

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. - -- --- - -- --- - - - . Fat lure of Dam No. 31/°ihe Middle Fork of Buffalo Creek Near Saunders . West Vtrg tsri on febn,ary 28, 1172 OCTO8 1982 1J-7cf 131/ J National Research Counc il. Washin gton. OC.• Natfonal Science Foundation. Wash ington, DC. (01 9026000 ) AUTHOR: Seals. Roger K.; Marr, W. Allen Jr; Lambe, T. Wtlltam G7525L3 Fld: 81, 13B, 48A, 508 GRAI8221 1972 35p Contract : NSF-C310-T0-115 Abstract : At approximately e a.m . on Saturday, February 26, 1972. a coal refuse dam located near the mouth of the Middle Fork of Buffalo Creek at Saunders , West Virginia, failed . The failure released approximately 176 million gallons of water i nto the Buffalo Creek Valley . Prior to entering Buffalo Creek, the water broke through two other dams. The flood waters flowed along Buffalo Creek Valley to Man. West V1rg1nia. where they entered the Guyandotte River . In the three hours it took to traverse the 17-mile length of the Buffalo Creek Valley, the flood produced damage estimated to be between 30 and 50 m111ton dollars. In add1t1on, the flood caused 118 deaths, left approximately 4,000 homeless. and destroyed or sertously damaged approximately 850 permanent and mobile homes. Also destroyed were approximately 1,000 cars and trucks. several htghway and railway bridges. sections of rai lroad tracks and highways, and portions of utility 3ctlities. The Office of Emergency Preparedness estimated the Jst of the flood to the 17 participating federal agencies to ~ approx1mately $22 mill Ion, which included $7 million in 1saster relief and $12 million in funds for road ~cons truction . This report summarizes the observations , 1nd1ng s, and recommendations of an tnspectton team . ~scriptors: •Coal mines, •Tailings, •Dams, Failure , Floods , t sasters. West Virginia jentlfters: Buffalo Creek, Saunders(West Virginia), Dam Jmber 3 1 Mtne wastes. NTISNASNRC,NTISNSFG 382-223918 NTIS Prices: PC A03/MF A01 

•-------------- FAILURE OF DAMNO. 3 on the Middle For k o f Buf fal o Creek ne.ar Saunders, West Virg in i a on Februa r y 26, 1972 Report prepared by Ro ger K. Seals, W. Allen Marr, Jr., and T. William Lambe for the Committee on Natura l Dis as ters Natio n al Academy of Engineering 1972 NAS-NAE DEC1 91972 LIBRARY