Erosional and Depositional Aspects of Hurricane Camille in Virginia, 1969
Open Access
- 1 January 1973
- report
- Published by US Geological Survey
Abstract
Probably the worst natural disaster in central Virginia's recorded history was the flood resuiting from an 8-hour deluge of about 28 inches (710 mm) of rain on the night of August 19-20, 1969. This study examines some of the intensive sediment erosion and deposition that resulted from the storm and flood. Most of the 150 people whom the flood killed in this mountainous area died from broken bones and other blunt-force injuries, rather than by drowning. The transport of sediment and other debris by the water therefore was very significant in loss of life and in property damage. Erosion resulted mainly from debris avalanches down the mountain-sides and channel scour along streams and head-water tributaries. Total amounts of sediment yield from certain mountainous areas in Nelson County were about 3.2-4.6 million cubic feet per square mile, probably the equivalent of several thousand years of normal denudation. Characteristics of the debris avalanches were that...This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: