The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man

In 1972, a coal-waste dam owned by the Pittston Company collapsed at the head of a densely populated hollow in southern West Virginia. A surge of sludge, debris, and water swept through the valley, resulting in 125 deaths and leaving 4,000 people homeless. The documentary features interviews with survivors, union and citizens’ group representatives, and Pittston Company officials, intercut with actual footage of the flood and the destruction it caused. As the causes of the disaster are investigated, evidence suggests that company officials were aware of the potential hazard before the flood and that the dam violated both state and federal regulations. Despite this, the Pittston Company denied any responsibility, attributing the disaster to an “act of God.”