The Great Flood of 1913 was one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. Between March 23 and 26, relentless rainfall overwhelmed rivers across the central and eastern United States. By the time the floodwaters receded, an estimated 900 lives had been lost across multiple states.
While much attention is given to the destruction in Ohio and Indiana, Appalachia was also deeply affected. On March 29, reports surfaced of severe flooding in Virginia and Tennessee. In Appalachia, VA, families were forced to abandon their homes as water levels rose. Livestock were lost, and the Interstate Railroad, which connected Scott County to Andover, was heavily damaged by washouts.
In Bristol, Virginia, floodwaters shut down the streetcar system, damaging the cars’ motors and leaving them inoperable. The business district, including the area around the Hotel Bristol (near today’s Museum of Country Music), found itself underwater. In Tennessee, Indian Creek swelled to levels that residents had never seen before…