July 29, 2009
State road named in memory of 1972 disaster
Advertiser
KISTLER, W.Va. -- A road in Logan County will be renamed to commemorate the 1972 Buffalo Creek disaster, in which 125 people were killed.
Buffalo Creek Road will be renamed Buffalo Creek Memorial Highway at an Aug. 9 ceremony held at the Buffalo Creek Memorial in Kistler.
Elizabeth Tackett, librarian at the Buffalo Creek Memorial Library, says two signs will be erected with the new name.
Logan County Delegate Greg Butcher is scheduled to be on hand to read a resolution honoring those who died in the catastrophe.
On Feb. 26, 1972, an earthen coal impoundment collapsed during heavy rain, causing a flood that killed 125 people, injured 1,100 and left about 4,000 homeless.
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"Governor Arch Moore said at the time that the media coverage of the disaster was “an even greater tragedy than the accident itself.” He proposed the construction of a new community center and a redevelopment project, none of which was ever funded. Meanwhile, residents were packed into flimsy trailer parks and abandoned.
"A Citizens Commission to Investigate the Buffalo Creek Flood was formed, and one member, Rev. Jim Sommerville, said: 'We think that this coal company, Pittston, has murdered the people…'
"Many lawsuits were filed, but in the largest, 600 survivors and family members of victims sued Pittston for $64 million and settled for one fifth of that. Each person won an average of $13,000 after costs."
much more here
http://tinyurl.com/kpnagn