Buffalo Creek, 1966-1973

This subseries of the Arch Moore Jr. Collection documents the state of West Virginia’s governmental response to the Buffalo Creek flood and disaster of February 26, 1972. It contains the information and testimonies gathered by the Governor’s Ad Hoc Commission investigating the Buffalo Creek disaster, as well as drafts of the official report of the commission. It also contains press clippings about the disaster, its aftermath, and the legal proceedings that arose following the flood. In addition, there are many files of correspondence between the governor and constituents, other governmental bodies, and heads of state with regard to the Buffalo Creek disaster and response within this subseries. Some of the important topics represented in this subseries are disaster relief; emergency preparedness; redevelopment; state budget; correspondence; job loss and creation; legal proceedings; commission investigations; research funding; Environmental Protection Agency; coal refuse dams; Army Corps of Engineers; recreation; land use; Housing and Urban Development. Materials are largely textual, including correspondence, memorandums, executive orders, interviews, newspaper clippings, maps, diagrams, invoices, bound reports, and related printed materials. Among other formats scattered throughout this subseries are photographs, reel to reel audiovisual materials, and vinyl records.