The Clendenin - Elkview Area Flood Of June 2016 The
devastating flood of 2016 was unusual in that along the same
stretch of torrid rain, some communities were completely flooded
out, while others along the same path were spared. Some spots
picked up more than a foot of rain in only a few hours. About 23
people were killed. The storm basically stretched from Roane County to
White Sulphur Springs. Richwood and Greenbrier County were
hit hard. In our area, Clendenin and Elkview were hit especially
hard due to proximity to the Elk River. Here are a few photos I
took on Friday morning while it was still raining, of this section.
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If
it werent for the telephone poles, you'd think this was just another
lazy river, but it's actually U.S 119, otherwise known as the
Charleston - Spencer Road. Locals call this the "Welford
Straight Stretch" along I-79 just before it turns left towards
Roane County. Clendenin was completely surrounded by water,
and these boats couldnt get across the raging Elk River to get to
them.
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Same exit as first photo. This was the only place rescue boats could enter closest to Clendenin.
Heading towards Clendenin., a distance of two and a half miles by water.
Starting in the Clio area of Roane County, this trailer was washed off its foundation shown on the left.
In
the Elkview area, the shopping center was completely cut off.
About 400 people were stranded for 24 hours after the only bridge
washed out. It wasnt the worst place to be stranded, but some of
these people went back to their homes and found them gone.
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These homes were in the Big Chimney area.
This business in Elkview right at the Interstate entrance.
Clay
County was hit hard also, especially downtown Clay. Along the Elk
River Road, famous for it's camps, many were destroyed, and camping
trailers flushed down the river as these two. Many nice homes
were also along this stretch and suffered damage. The lucky ones
only had tons of rocks covering their yards after washing off the
hillsides.
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