By: Mary G. Roush
It has been 10 years since the devastating flood of 2016 swept through Southern West Virginia. Homes were destroyed, businesses ruined, and lives lost. However, through the tragedy, there were still moments of resilience, perseverance and hope.
In June of 2016, I had just turned 13 years old. Leading up to what would be one of the worst floods in West Virginia history, I was packing my bags for a week away at church camp, which I often referred to as ‘the greatest week of the year’. I had attended the camp since the summer after I finished 3rd grade. It truly was my home away from home. We sang, we danced, we played, we learned, we swam (in a gigantic pool!), all in the hills of Webster County, WV at Camp Caesar 4H camp.
As you could assume, it rained non-stop the entire week. I’m sure it was disappointing and miserable in the moment but I can’t remember the rain standing in the way. We spent a lot of time in the craft cabin, sitting on our bunks braiding each other’s hair, and talking about boys, of course.
As the week went on, the creek that ran all the way through camp continued to rise. As the rain increased so did the whispers of flooding. The staff made sure to emphasize to us that everything would be alright and it wouldn’t get to the point we would have to leave. I remember asking a counselor, “In what scenario would we actually have to leave camp?” He responded with “If the creek rises enough to break over the road then that’s when we’ll know. But, there’s no way that will happen.”
Not even two hours later, the creek broke over the road causing flash flooding all over lower camp. The next thing I knew, the staff was busting through our cabin doors directing us to put all of our items on the top bunk and put on shoes and raincoats as fast as possible. One by one, they were bringing us down the hill where staff waited in a line to grab our hands so we wouldn’t fall. I will never forget walking down the hill watching floods of water rush over my feet, all the way up to my ankles.
Before I knew it, we were evacuating and loaded onto school buses. We seeked shelter at the nearest facility that could hold our 400 person camp, which ended up being Emmanuel Assembly of God Church. I remember singing hymns and camp songs on the bus in hopes that the act would distract us from the disaster we were living through.
I will never understand how the staff and local responders coordinated our evacuation so quickly. There were moments where time truly stood still and those moments will be etched in my brain for the rest of my life.
When we all arrived at the church, the director began a roll call. One by one, she went down the list to make sure everyone was accounted for. The energy in the room was one of the most powerful feelings I have ever felt. As we got closer to the end of the list, the crowd started to cheer and cry with joy at the realization that we all had made it safely. We were the lucky ones.
As I look back on the event ten years later, the part that stands out the most is the overall graciousness and generosity of the community around us. While hundreds to thousands of Webster County residents were facing the same tragedy, they were the same ones that brought us food, water, blankets, toiletries, dry socks, and more. And to me, that is what it means to be a West Virginian. That is the power of community.
I learned that day that a community isn’t just where you are from or the people you know. It can mean helping your neighbor even when you are in need yourself.
The memory of the 2016 flood reminds me of the unwavering neighborly love we owe to one another not just during the worst of times, but every single day.
Read more about the 2016 Flood in GOLDENSEAL’s Fall 2016 Special Issue ➡️ Click here!
Mary G. Roush
is the current Editor of GOLDENSEAL and a proud Mason County native and West Virginia University alumna.
Roush, Mary G. “Remembering the 2016 Flood.” Goldenseal West Virginia Traditional Life, Summer 2026. https://goldenseal.wvculture.org/remembering-the-2016-flood/
