A hot and humid day saw plenty of afternoon sunshine in the Charleston to Beckley region.  Surface dew points were in the low and mid 70s.  Thunderstorms from the north and east developed inward during the late afternoon, toward Charleston.  This produced localized cloudbursts.    Governor Cecil Underwood declared a state of emergency in Kanawha, Raleigh, and Roane Counties.  This proclamation allowed the governor to use state personnel and equipment to help in the clean-up.  It took 2 weeks to clear the debris from Dupont City.

Flash Flood in KANAWHA, WEST VIRGINIA
From 02-SEP-00 17:55:00 to 02-SEP-00 20:00:00 (EST)
Location: BELLE
Property damage: 500K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

A downpour fell in the vicinity of Malden Mountain, between 1730 and 1900E.  This affected the right fork of Burning Spring Branch.  A resident near the junction of the 3 forks, measured 4.2 inches of rain in 90 minutes.  Water flowed off the steep hillside and into a few homes along the right fork.  Private culverts, that were over driveways, could not handle the water.  The culverts were damaged.  Water rose over these culverts, into yards and around some homes.  After Burning Spring Branch flowed under Route 60, it flooded Williams Ave., First Ave., and Main Street in Dupont City.  The one long culvert that goes under a drug store, had a high dirt bank around it.  This prevented the water to flow over the culvert.  This caused severe flooding upstream of that culvert.  Homes had 3 to 4 feet of water on their lower floor.  Two single family homes were destroyed.  On the order of 40 to 50 homes had major to minor water damage.  Nearby streams, such as Georges Creek, had minor overflow.

Flash Flood in RALEIGH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 02-SEP-00 17:30:00 to 02-SEP-00 19:30:00 (EST)
Location: SHADY SPG
Property damage: 150K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

The cooperative observer in Beckley measured 3.1 inches of rain.  About a dozen homes in Beckley received damage, with 2 homes on Harley Avenue having about 7 feet of water in their basement.    Streams around Beaver and Shady Springs also flooded.  Route 16 was flooded toward Mabscott.  The state funded individual and family grant  program had 15 applicants from Raleigh County.

Flash Flood in BOONE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 02-SEP-00 19:30:00 to 02-SEP-00 20:30:00 (EST)
Location: JEFFREY
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Small tributaries of Spruce Fork flooded, but caused only minor road damage.

Flash Flood in HARRISON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 02-SEP-00 18:15:00 to 02-SEP-00 19:00:00 (EST)
Location: CLARKSBURG
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

Small streams overflowed onto roads.  Minor basement flooding also occurred..

Flash Flood in ROANE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 02-SEP-00 17:50:00 to 02-SEP-00 19:30:00 (EST)
Location: SPENCER
Property damage: 75K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

One resident along Boggs Run measured 3 inches of rain in just an hour.  Nearby, Slate Run also flooded.  Water got into basements and a number of private bridges were damaged.  In the southern portion of the county, a family of 5 was trapped inside their conversion van, as water from Cottontree Run rose very rapidly.  A tow truck was able to get a cable hooked to the van, just before it began to float away.  The vehicle and passengers were pulled to safety.  Afterwards, the tow truck had to be rescued by another tow truck.  Two county dwellings had minor water damage.