When The Whirlwind Came: The 1929 Tragedy at Rye Cove, Virginia

In this episode of Stories of Appalachia, we tell the story of one of the most devastating natural disasters to strike southwest Virginia: the Rye Cove cyclone of 1929. A day that began like any other would end in tragedy as a powerful tornado tore across the community of Rye Cove, leaving death and destruction in its wake.
#podcast
#RyeCoveCyclone #1929TornadoOutbreak #HistoricAppalachianStorms #Virginia'sDeadliestTornado
#A.P.CarterCycloneOfRyeCove #RyeCoveMemorialHighSchool #ScottCountyVirginiaHistory #TornadoDestructionAccounts #AppalachianHistory

[@neeceeboo777]

Growing up in Florida. I've been through my share of tornadoes and hurricanes. I've witnessed a house right across the street get leveled and ours not touched. It's a scary experience.

[@justalice8035]

Thanks guys ! This is my favorite subject... weather especially tornadoes. I'd not heard of this tragedy before. I appreciate your teaching history in an awesome way !! God Bless you both !!❤🙏

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

Thanks for watching!

[@ritalowman5863]

Wow, had never heard of this! Such a scary and tragic event. I love to listen to the videos you all make. Appreciate it so much. Thank you.

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

We’re glad you liked our story.

[@tommcdavid9917]

I was raised in Rye Cove. I was born in 68 in Kingsport Tenn because it was the closest Hospital. I have 3 siblings, and we all attended the old rebuilt Rye Cove School, it was elementary, middle and high school all in one building about the size of an average modern church..... it has long since been torn down, but we still have a monument with the old school bell atop.

[@rlbennett]

A couple of comments, 2011 there was a tornado just north of Abingdon in Glade Springs. Also, I think the Rye Cove storm was the tornado that frightened my uncle OM Cross so badly that for the rest of his life he would go in his neighbor's basement in Mendota any time a thunderstorm happened near him

[@debluetailfly]

I have a recording of Doc Watson singing Rye Cove. Never had seen any pictures of it.

[@shadowears]

I recall sometime about 20-30 or so years ago a tornado had touched down near Dungannon in Scott County. No one was injured. A couple of days later myself and some friends made the trip to survey the damage. Mostly just trees busted up and twisted into splinters but there was this one farm house that had a tobacco barn approximately 50 yards from their house. The barn was completely obliterated and not so much as a single piece of tin ripped off the house. I would like to see you guys make a documentary of the flood of 1977 and the blizzard of 1993.

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

We've told the stories of the flood and the blizzard, although I don't know if we've done them as a video on KZbin. We'll look into it...thanks!

[@vickielancaster7054]

You mentioned about 3 last names of Carter as victims, and I was wondering if that was possibly Carter family relatives.

[@StoriesofAppalachia]

According to a Facebook post by the Museum of Appalachia, one of the girls killed was related to A. P., but we have no confirmation of that.