Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man, The
Work
- Date of Production
- 1975
- Duration
- Run time: 0:39:36
- Creators
- Pickering, Mimi (is director)
- Pickering, Mimi (is producer)
- Yarrow, Doug (is composer)
- Yarrow, Ruth (is composer)
- Contributors
- Pickering, Mimi (is editor)
- Gates, Robert (is cinematographer)
- DuBey, Gene (is cinematographer)
- Faulkner, Scott (is cinematographer)
- Pickering, Mimi (is cinematographer)
- Herrick, Alida (is cinematographer)
- Newell, Marty (is cinematographer)
- Zickafoose, Ben (is cinematographer)
- DeBord, Angelyn (is cinematographer)
- Stanton, Mike (is cinematographer)
- Yarrow, Doug (is composer)
- Yarrow, Ruth (is composer)
- Wright, Jack (is musician)
- Summary
- The film Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man examines Pittston Coal Company's responsibility for one of the most devastating coal disasters in Appalachian history. On February 26, 1972 under pressure from heavy rains, a Pittson coal waste dam broke and flooded the community of Buffalo Creek, West Virginia. It killed 125 people and left 4,000 people homeless. The company denied culpability by claiming the flood was “An Act of God.”
Director Mimi Pickering used testimonials and photos from local residents to give the victims the opportunity to describe the flood from the their perspectives. The film makes the case that the company was at fault and uses evidence uncovered in the making of the film to support this perspective. The second section of the film documents the legal struggle that ensued after the flood. Residents formed the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the Buffalo Creek Disaster, and challenge the contention of the Pittston Company that the flood was ''an act of God.'' They present evidence of the company's poor mine
safety record, the illegal construction of the dam, and the failure of the company's supervisors to warn residents when the danger of collapse was imminent. Their grievances included unwillingness to acknowledge the dangerous conditions the dam created, and inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations by state inspectors.
"The politically charged subject matter made filming very difficult. Pickering faced opposition from the company and from some community residents. Despite these obstacles, Pickering’s subjects demonstrated political and legal savvy and a willingness to engage in activism to improve conditions in their coal community." (Herdman)
Herdman, Catherine N., "Appalshop Genesis: Appalachians Speaking for Themselves in the 1970s and 80s" (2014). http://uknowledge.uky.edu/history_etds/19
- Description
- "The Buffalo Creek Flood" by Doug Yarrow and Ruth Yarrow, performed by Jack Wright. Special Thanks to Brenda Mahoney, David Massey, Stanley Majka, The Mountain Eagle, and Bill and Josephine Richardson.
- Subjects
- Coal Industry, Mining regulations, Coal Waste Disasters
- Related Works
- SludgeBuffalo Creek Revisited
- Related Collection
- The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man materials, c.1975
- Related Place
- Logan County, WV
?map
Related Objects
Loading...