39 years ago, I've lived in Roanoke for most of my life.

My cousin’s uncle’s boss’s dog was 11 years old when this happened.

We literally left Roanoke a few hours before the flooding started. We were visiting family. We just missed it.

It’s a good reminder that western NC has and could happen here.

Yes, it was so sad😢 This is scarey

Thanks for sharing!

This is why we have to #saveevansspringroanokevirginia It helps absorb water in the area.

I THINK this flood washed away the last "Asbestosis factory" in Roanoke and it has not been the same since THEIR FOR JOBS LOL

I was 5 years old living in Boones Mill. Somehow i remember 220 being under water. This flood was such a devastating event. My great grandmother drowned in her house during this. She lived in Buchanan near the James. When the waters receded and her house was accessible...she was found with her shoes and coat on as if she was about to leave, but the waters rose too quickly 😢 That same river , in the same town of Buchanan, claimed my Dads life when i was 14. I HATE the James River.

My father was the one who called in the helicopter to save e.j. Thomas and his son

I was 18 in 85 and honestly only remember Victory stadium area and Ej Thomas market...

You cant play guitar and you make me very uncomfortable

I was working on a project on top of Bent Mountain during this event. Finished, I was to head to Bluefield, Va. Where I lived. Not able to go through Roanoke, I had to travel on a mountain road to Elliston to catch 460 West. It was a mess!

Lost a car in this flood 😢

I remember that day, I was in Clearbrook Elementary.

If Florence hit us like it was initially supposed to it would've probably been worse than this. Thankfully a front pushed it to south carolina first to weaken

Flood control and rebuilding is the root cause of inflation. Storm damage to resource as well as else where too the cause per disaster. Then there is the consideration of the cause of severe weather; be it natural cause or man-made as political action for control of prosperity.

The likes of the late Reverend Noel C Taylor, Mayor of Roanoke City, is sorely missed. He was an inspiration to the people of Roanoke before, during, and after the “Flood of ‘85”.

I was from Buchanan, and remember this so well. I was a young teenager, and watching this... Wow. We lost our store but thankfully not our home. But I sure knew a lot who did. Here almost 40 years later, I can still smell that musty odor of the "flood mud". I bet if I looked hard enough around my parent's home, I could even find salvaged items with dried mud still on them.

I was born in 1978. I remember the school buses not being able to get to us at Cave Spring Elementary. My parents I had to come get me. Because the bus garage was in Salem and could not even get buses out. I'm sure it was worse in other places but God knows I will never forget being so scared when the lights went out, and not knowing how or if I would get home. Especially after the power went out at the school. Still live here. I'm 45 now and I've never seen anything like that ever since .

Wow my mom was pregnant w me when the flood of 1985 happened that flood was bad

here i am considering moving to this area getting away from natural disastera in ca...i guess itll be a nice vacation😁

Victory Stadium 😢. We’d watch fireworks there every 4th of July. I ran track there ….#memories

I was about 4 years old. I remember riding in the back of my mom’s station wagon and seeing water everywhere. Don’t remember much but I remember that.

Rain seeding and all. The flood was made to happen to quell the 1980's generation's ambitions upon or nearing graduation. Remember 1984 in the 1940's. The valley stage was preset for another generation's pre - decided upon failure. It will probably be made to happen again. The quellings.

This, and other custom Jimmy Buffett show posters I made are available here: a3photography.photoreflect.com/store/Photos.aspx?e=10542940&gf=False&noshowmarket=true

I remember being on the lawn and it was pouring down rain. Jimmy refused to stop the show and played in that storm.

I wasnt born until a yr later but the 86 flood wqs such a big deal i talk about it like i was there.😂 In addition to the fact that i did see many floods after it tho

I was 9 when this happened. We lived in Norwich across from the park. I remember watching the water build up across the street and coming from back near the river. Then it was in our yard and all around the house. My cousin Butch got me out of there. Didn't see my Mom or Dad for almost a month because I was staying with different family members while Dad fixed the house.

Multiple instances

I remember my parents taking me and my older brother when I was 7 or 8, it honestly scared me back then! I was like “WHATS GONNA HAPPEN” Now I’m 21 and I’m excited to go back

it still floods bad here Hurricane Michael put 5 ft of water in my basement a few years ago. card an the big green dumpsters were floating down the street. wife was 8 months pregnant with my twin boys I'll Neva forget how fast the water was rising.

I also remember this flood.

Anniversary day - took my first look in a long time. God Bless the Star City.

This flood is indelible in my mind. I was 15 when this happened….I lived near Buchanan……I have never seen anything like this since

I was 16 years old then

As beautiful and peaceful as Mother Nature can be, it is an unforgiving entity

They sent the army in to kill the survivors. 🤔😁😂

I remember this vividly

I was born during this!!!

With all that is going on , you choose to remind us of this ,what an asshat

One takeaway from this, people didn't seem to care about having flood insurance. I get people who weren't in direct flood planes but right next to the James and no flood insurance? I imagine that after this, people definitely made sure flood insurance was on their docket.

I live here wtf my dad talked about this

Was born in Roanoke in 75 my family moved to Indiana.dads work transferred him.had some good memories.

Wow.

Its amazing the amount of water it takes for the Roanoke and James River to flood

Born in the blizzard of 83... then this happened. I don't remember a thing, just love to hear the stories

I was 9 years old when this happened! Sad times

I live in Roanoke VA and I never knew that this happened

Wow