Fifty years ago in West Virginia, the collapse of a coal-waste impoundment unleashed a torrent of black water into a narrow valley
Destroyed homes and businesses are piled up against each other in the Dingess Hollow area of Lorado, W.Va., after the Buffalo Creek Dam broke on Feb. 26, 1972. MAN, W.Va. — — The day before the disaster hit, Perry Harvey went fishing on Buffalo Creek for one reason.The following morning, his wife's birthday, Harvey was on his way to pick up a cake, but police had the road blocked off.
As residents gather this weekend on the 50th anniversary of one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history, they're also able to revel in a comeback. Volunteers picked up trash around the creek. Local high school students were brought in by the busload, helping them to fulfill the 40 hours of community service required to graduate.
But the disaster will never be forgotten. On Saturday, victims were being remembered at the same high school that served as a temporary morgue 50 years ago. The state filed a $100 million lawsuit against mine owner Pittston Coal; then-Gov. Arch Moore accepted a $1 million settlement at the end of his second term. A separate settlement for survivors amounted to about $13,000 per plaintiff.Jack Spadaro, a mine safety investigator and environmental specialist, has made it his life’s work to prevent such disasters from happening again.
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