The Flood of '85 - Roanoke Virginia

[@jbthesfm]

You don't really get a sense of how much Roanoke has changed in the last 30 years until you watch this.

[@jguitarz1]

Yeah,and in a bad way. I was 9 in 85 lived in SE,nothing like it used to be.

[@thelizfamilyvlogs6187]

This looks like a small town almost. The only building i recognize is Memorial. Crime has also gone up since this video

[@clydeg4274]

No shit I don’t even recognize anything lol

[@jonburrows2684]

@@clydeg4274 wokeness has ruined the U.S.

[@joshsalmons1867]

This is probably the catalyst that initiated growth. Most of everything had to be rebuilt or refurbished.

[@allenpalmer7885]

This video reinforces why I'm proud to call Roanoke my home. Why I am destined to live and die here The relentlessly of our area< Our people, Our neighbors, is overwhelming.

[@Globaldisasternetwork777]

Including all the crack head$ here?

[@kylevillareal5567]

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

[@GenerationVideoGamer]

Thanks for posting this. I was living on Marshall Ave at the time and was high above the flooding. A short time after the water receded, me and a friend went down to Wasena Park to see the damage. It was a total wasteland. The image that will stick with me the most there was of the football goal posts that were bent almost completely over. A true testament of the waters depth and power.

[@HairyLimeLives]

I walked down to Wasena Park then, too! There were piles of debris nearly up to the baseball field. Tree branches all over the ground and plastic bags all up in the trees. 18-wheeler trailers strewn all over the place, crushed and flattened like empty cigarette cartons. Walked across a stack of wooden pallets and stepped on a damned nail, went right through the bottom of my Air Jordans and into the bottom of my foot. I still have a photo my dad took of the water almost up to the top of a speed limit sign, taken at the intersection of Howbert Avenue and Main Street.

[@IsraelPattison]

I wish someone at WDBJ would pull this out and clean it up for the 30th anniversary this November. I remember watching this documentary over and over again. I was 11 years old in 1985 and I remember getting trapped in Central Elementary School in Low Moor, Virginia that day.

[@fallsdp]

I was trapped at James River High School

[@zachkiss8870]

New to Roanoke. Everyone at work always talks about the BIG flood, now I see why.

[@richmondcomputercompanyinc8054]

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

[@jonm1365]

Nostalgia on the real, I was 8 years old when this all happened, I remember it raining endlessly, seeing lakeside amusement park swamped, the park down the street from my house destroyed, ohhhh the memories. I live in Ga now and at 42 the older I get I find myself going down memory lane

[@randyprevette3903]

Lakeside amusement park was awesome 👍

[@deb8119]

I remember Lakeside! Good times…

[@robinsitten1777]

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

[@Lagaidh]

Ha, the immortal voice of Irv Sharp. I miss him delivering the weather when I was a little kid. He pointed at temperatures with a little baton. I was 8 for this flood. I was at my grandfather's house on Tinker Ave... across from Tinker Creek. We watched that day as the creek ate the houses on the far side of the road, then crossed the road, then it reached the second post of the carport as it came up the hill on the other side of the road. There is where it stopped. 15 feet or so from the first step of the stoop. His was one of a few houses that were up high enough on the far side to stay dry. We couldn't leave until well into the next day.

[@nickhill8612]

I was thinking it was Keith Humphrey. I remember that flood.

[@fallsdp]

Keith Humphrey…not Irv

[@footballfan7771]

Irv was the first voice heard on the video then Keith narrated the rest

[@spirituallifecoachinginsti7207]

MY grandmother lived up a hill, survived the damages.....ruined Roanoke Valley....always a flood zone, in the valley folks.......coming again........one day.....My entire family was born, and buried there now....my grave also....love to visit there, from New York.

[@greg9092]

I remember getting out of school early from Woodrow Wilson and making my way down to wasena park to my mom's house. I remember all the trailers from across the river going down the river and smashing into the big oak trees. That summer we moved from Willow River to SW. If we would have not moved we would have lost everything since we were in the basement level.

[@paulntraci99]

Thanks for sharing this. Have been looking for this for years now with no luck.

[@Deerock_FL]

I lived in the area for a few years in the 90s. People would talk about a flood in 1985 and I really didn't think it was that bad. I stand corrected...

[@royyates1558]

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

[@talon501]

Thanks for sharing!

[@stitch-xx2oo]

Thanks for posting!!!!

[@KevinsUploads]

Thanks for posting this!! I remember this flood very well and it was cool to see the replay of the recap show

[@kathrynlberanich4211]

Wow! That was riveting. I lived in Roanoke in 1985 and have no memory of the flood. Now, 30+ years later, I applaud the photography of Neil, Laurence, Mark, Carol, Steve and anyone I missed as well as the editing which elegantly wove Keith's narrative together with interviews and nat sound. Wish there had been credits!

[@greggreen6636]

I remember this vividly

[@richisner]

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

[@bigorange2082]

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

[@charlottekrantz3555]

We were holed up at Lord Botetourt during the flood...I remember Coach House and other faculty making us peanut butter sandwiches for supper and being at the school for hours until Uncle Dean can and picked us up.

[@Hooverpixie24]

I was born during this!!!

[@wowidkwhattoput]

Look how tiny the hospital was

[@TheRatedRockstar]

I know right beautiful

[@gccstudent83]

I was 2 when this hit Roanoke. All I remember is what my parents told me. We lived on Dale Ave back then

[@redbeardthemighty8946]

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.

[@darrenh5175]

I remember that day well. Roanoke was forever changed bby that even, but looking at Roanoke today you would never know that. I suppose the people who lived through that incident are forever changed.

[@starcitylife6415]

I live this .... hard to explain..unless you were there..

[@capitals40]

I was just out of college working my 1st real job on the edge of downtown ... I remember looking out the window seeing a river rushing toward the Market area. Driving home took a couple of hours to Southwest County...I saw some crazy flooding and tons of damage along the way...including a train engine floating down the river.

[@boomy776]

That's crazy! Norfolk Southern or NW?

[@bunnyakers]

I remember this all to well...I was 11 or 12 when this happened and here in west Virginia my family lost a lot

[@jesusrules0707]

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

[@boomy776]

My mom works at the memorial hospital and last week the river was crazy they had to move the cars and you could feel that black walk bridge shaking.

[@dianawise203]

I was supposed to go into work at 11:00 and work until 7:00. Never even got out of my neighborhood. My house sat high up above Peters Creek so I was lucky. No water in my house but the people at the bottom of the hill lost everything I’m sure. The creek became a river that day.

[@Col92018]

I was 16 years old then

[@joemomma1968]

Cool I was seventeen I went to roanoke catholic

[@hsserry5289]

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!

[@korvasterindar9672]

My dad was 16 when this happened.

[@dangerdantheone]

I was not born at this time but I'm from Roanoke.. so.. But I know about it from my mother

[@zachbowyer6305]

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.

[@raycooper3463]

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”.

[@BlueRidgeCritter]

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.

[@mitchellmorton8477]

I used to live in Roanoke but I don't anymore.

[@MYHUMAN68]

I was born in Roanoke VA & I'll die in Roanoke VA.

[@camryns1713]

MYHUMAN68 me to

[@Lamont24012]

Sad for you .

[@president49]

I was born and raised in Hopewell VA and trying to figure out why I'm still living in hopewell VA

[@dustinbotkin2426]

🤣😂🤣 sorry bud.

[@president49]

@@dustinbotkin2426 what's funny bud?

[@lilchampva136]

I was 9 years old when this happened! Sad times

[@aprilappl]

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

[@Globaldisasternetwork777]

Same lol

[@TraxxGallery]

4:04 The legendary LAKESIDE Amusement Park.

[@jaydodsworth3063]

That's what led to it closing?

[@TraxxGallery]

@@jaydodsworth3063 from what I understand, the flood devastated the park, but someone bought and rebuilt it. It was to open in the summer of 1986, but there was an accident during a test run of the roller coaster (a maintenance worker was struck and killed) and there was a lawsuit. I may not have all the facts right, though.

[@michelericecarpenter26]

I was a student at Virginia Western Community College when it started to flood. The school closed early. I could not get to my destination because of flooded roads.

[@Neshabooeyeseeu]

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

[@JeffSelf]

I remember that all too well. I was a Freshman at Virginia Tech.

[@mickthegod2609]

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.

[@jesscountingstars9260]

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.

[@braddedmondson3100]

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 .

[@marcushardy7873]

I was only 5 years old during that time.

[@tammymontgomery7995]

My daughter was born in that hospital while the first floor was under water

[@Hooverpixie24]

I was too!!

[@kathrynlberanich4211]

The prayer chain!!!

[@Dizzykennedy378]

Prayer!

[@frozen9065]

I live here wtf my dad talked about this

[@bspsdad]

Was 3 years old and lost our home

[@yonu5983]

I also remember this flood.

[@chucklucas8747]

Roanoke is a strong city the star city of the south lived there for 17 years I wished I could go back fish the river in my youth an swim it for a lot week ends

[@bspsdad]

Roanoke is trash

[@Globaldisasternetwork777]

Roanoke is a slum

[@Globaldisasternetwork777]

@@bspsdad thank you for tht

[@wndowpayne]

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

[@blakewaddell451]

Sad to see that beetle in the video lol. I have had several people tell me about this I wasn’t born yet but a guy was telling me about it and said he was teaching at Burton and the water was halfway up the walls and they could hardly get out or anything.

[@kdwalters2]

This is so chilling. Hopefully we aren't in store for it again this weekend.

[@Adino1]

Roanoke dodged a bullet last year. This kind of flood will happen again with-in our life times I believe.

[@DaaaveSummers33]

Let me move out of the flood plain first!

[@tiffanysandifer2319]

My mom was about 5 when this happened

[@MissJones-r9w]

I was also 5 when it happened. I was in kindergarten in salem , va near lakeside. Your mom should know about lakeside.

[@MissJones-r9w]

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

[@CARNELIANTURQUOISE]

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

[@mooseoxtank]

I remember that day, I was in Clearbrook Elementary.

[@boomy776]

Wow wow wow WHAT HAPPEND TO THOSE TRAINS I LOVE TRAINS

[@joemomma1968]

Hi, there. Those trains were a part of the Roanoke transportation museum located in wasena park old Southwest roanoke. Awesome place. It's still there. They refurbished all of those trains.

[@thelizfamilyvlogs6187]

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

[@richmondcomputercompanyinc8054]

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

[@SusieCambria]

Brings back some memories, good and bad. I was a junior at Hollins University (then College). The bad was all the damage, etc. The good was the school community and those from other colleges and universities pulling together to get Hollins open again.

[@jilltincher5262]

i was only 5 i did not remember it i heard about it but i didn't think it was that bad

[@bellyscraper420]

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

[@bruceleapaga1795]

I need to watch this so I could get a c+ in school

[@Lamont24012]

I was 11 when this happend just north of Roanoke a hour or , so but i wont forget it. There over due for another cleansing.

[@DeeRalphy]

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.

[@tankwilson5156]

I was only 4 and remember it

[@darrelltaylor1351]

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

[@schnookyface]

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

[@Adriann1973]

Aaannddd here we are again!

[@robinsumnerthefamp7363]

i was on bent mnt when this happened

[@fallsdp]

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

[@francesbradburn8665]

Yes, it was so sad😢 This is scarey

[@amberrochelle325]

Wow 😳

[@maudemathildeh335]

I've asked several folks about how bad Plantation Rd was in flood of '85 but no one can tell me anything. Can you tell me how bad it was?

[@jesscharles1512]

It was completely under water! 😢

[@rubinturner8233]

Wow.

[@robinlewis3488]

I have 4 when this happend

[@corylark9522]

I live in roanoke :l

[@generalviewer8347]

the bite of 87

[@cathybriggs5846]

Lost a car in this flood 😢

[@amandavargasgarrido1662]

i live in roanoke

[@joemomma1968]

Nice.😊

[@Real_Eski]

I was born in Italy Milan I’m italian

[@teeteelinks8607]

I'm worried this will be the result that Florence will bring. Sept. 2018.. Be safe y'all.

[@Will-i5u]

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.

[@sarahmorris389]

Wow

[@silkemueller1391]

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

[@JessicaFallen]

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

[@6kine6tic67]

What the hell does it flood often here?

[@president49]

Cause you always be spitting when you talk close your mouth just stfu

[@hillbillylocksport5547]

I remember this!!! Roanoke wiener stand!

[@joemomma1968]

Awsome place..

[@kathleenhartman6390]

The dam was opened and that's what really caused this i was told

[@joshsalmons1867]

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

[@theideabank8797]

Multiple instances

[@theideabank8797]

SeaWorld, Shamu jumps up and in pool, vibration felt near and wide

[@theideabank8797]

Splash in face distraction

[@theideabank8797]

Swimmers, Cannonball or Clean entry