page_title: 1985 Election Day floods
section_title: Virginia
hierarchical_section_title: 1985 Election Day floods / Impact / Virginia
caption_attribution_description: English: Hydrograph of the Roanoke River at Roanoke (RONV2) gauge starting mid-morning, November 4, 1985.
context_page_description: The 1985 Election Day floods — also known as the Killer Floods of 1985 in West Virginia — produced the costliest floods in both West Virginia and Virginia in November 1985. The event occurred after Hurricane Juan, a tropical cyclone in the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season, meandered near the coast of Louisiana before striking just west of Pensacola, Florida late on October 31. Juan moved northward into Canada, but spawned another system that spread moderate rainfall across the Mid-Atlantic States, wetting soils. On November 3, a low pressure area developed south of Florida and moved northeastward along a cold front, bringing a plume of moisture influenced by Juan's previous track. The storm moved through the southeastern United States, stalling on November 5 west of Washington, D.C. before turning out to sea the next day. The event was known as the Election Day floods due to its concurrence with elections in Virginia.
  Damage was heaviest in Virginia and West Virginia. In the former state, the rainfall peaked at 19.77 in just northeast of Montebello.
context_section_description: The high rainfall caused many rivers to rise above their banks across Virginia, becoming among the top three highest crests on record along several rivers in the state. The flood set the highest river stage on record along the Roanoke River at Roanoke, Tinker Creek near Daleville, the Calfpasture River at Goshen, the Craig Creek at Parr, and the James River at Buchanan, Holcomb Rock, and Bent Creek. At Holcomb Rock, the James River crested at 42.15 ft (12.85 m), the highest in the state, and was about 20 ft (6.1 m) above flood stage; based on the observations and the associated discharge, the return period was estimated as greater than a 1 in 500 year event. River gauges recorded record discharge rates at 34 stations, of which 32 were 100 year events. The rains delayed crops from being planted across the state and caused minor crop damage. Across the state, about 3,500 houses were destroyed. Overall, the storm system caused 22 deaths and $753 million, greater than the devastating hurricanes Camille and Agnes, and making it the costliest flood in the state's history.
  The city of Roanoke recorded 6.61 in (168 mm) in a 24‑hour period, the highest 24‑hour total on record for the city since records began in 1912; of the total, 4.25 in (108 mm) fell in about three hours. After previously wet conditions, the Roanoke River at Roanoke rapidly rose 18.57 ft (5.66 m) in ten hours to its peak of 23.35 ft (7.12 m), well above the flood stage of 10 ft (3.0 m). The floods were considered a 1 in 200 year event, and in one instance near Salem, the waters rose to the height of a three-story building. Many surrounding rivers, including the James River, also rose, with 63 peak discharge rates in local streams. The high rivers flooded much of downtown Roanoke, including roads, rail lines, houses, and businesses, with some roads and bridges closed for weeks. Residents survived by holding onto trees, while others, some trapped in their cars, required rescue; one helicopter rescued 125 stranded people. There were 10 deaths in and around Roanoke, including three who drove into flooded rivers, and three others who refused to evacuate. The floods damaged about 3,000 homes and 100 businesses. Overall monetary damage in the city was estimated at $225 million, with $520 million in the entire metropolitan area, making it the city's worst flood on record.
  Across the Shenandoah Valley, the flooding caused widespread damage, notably in Rockingham County where the floods damaged most of the roads, and entered 4,000 houses and 350 farms. Along the Shenandoah River, 13 gauging stations reported new discharge records, including the reading at Verona which was five times the previous record. In Elkton within the county, an 89‑year‑old railroad bridge was washed out, although nearby Bridgewater had less flooding due to a levee built in 1949; the town sustained minor damage to roads and the hydroelectric plant. In nearby Highland County along the border with West Virginia, the floods damaged 350 homes or barns, and deteriorated $2 million worth of roads. In Augusta County, also along the West Virginia border, the Buffalo Creek swept away bridges and roads, with $8 million in transportation damage and $7 million in other damages in the county. Staunton, a city independent from Augusta County, experienced minimal effects, although the water treatment plant was damaged and a hotel basement was flooded. Waynesboro, also within Augusta County, sustained $3 million in damages after the South River reached a record crest, damaging 213 homes and businesses. Damage was particularly heavy in Rockbridge County, estimated at $100 million, with 616 homes and businesses ravaged by floods. In Buena Vista alone, the Maury River left $50 million in damage, after 3 to 6 ft (0.91 to 1.83 m) of water entered homes and businesses. Over half of the homes and businesses were damaged in Glasgow.
  Along the James River, 15 gauging stations reported new records. At Lynchburg, the James River rose to 35 ft (11 m), surpassing the record set by Hurricane Camille in 1969 by 7 ft (2.1 m). The
caption: Hydrograph of the Roanoke River in Roanoke, Virginia, showing a 18.57 ft (5.66 m) increase in 10 hours
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