Christian WV - On May 9, 2009 at 3:30 a.m., there was a knock at the door. The lady said, "I'm sorry to wake you but the RV at the river is surrounded by flood water." By the time, my dad could come from his house, about 5 minutes away, his RV was already under water. There was wash outs and landslides he had to go through to get here.
I still don't know that lady's name, but I sure do thank her. This gave us time for us to take my mother, who is a invalid, to safety at my dad's house and to alert the campers people to leave.
A few pulled out with their campers but the water came so fast, there wasn't much time.
This is dad's camper, this camper is about 27 feet to my house.
My dad, Rev. Tommie R. Cline is the pastor on
Paradise Island of Christian WV
In this photo, the water had already went down 1/1/2 ft. to 2 ft.
It took 5 hours before we could come back on the island and the water had receded this far.
I'm Priscella and my husband Michael Smith owns the island. We made sure that the campers that could, pulled out. But most men that works on the gas pipelines or gas drilling had went home for the weekend. I have lived here on the island for 18 years and have never seen it flood like this before.
Joe and Geraldine Blankenship's camper.
Come morning we was sitting in our truck at the highway. We couldn't come on the island. We watch the island for the
first time since we've been here, go under water.
Accordingly to our maps this is a 500 year flood.
Over 85% of the island was under water of 2 1/2 - 3 feet deep.
We are a Christian Island with a biblical theme and everything on the island is for God's Ministry.
While sitting there I prayed, "God, I know that I have paid my
first fruits to you in money and time and I know accordantly to your word, that a shield of protection has been placed
over our home, which I seem to think of the whole island. God,
you know my whole life is about you and everything on the island is for you and I know our lives is in your hands." The peace that
follow that prayer. I knew that God was taking care of everything.
The river is behind the island, and surrounding the three sides of the island is a ditch or overflow for the river that looks like a creek. Trees clogged up the bridge crossing to the island and the flood waters was pouring from the stop-up culverts and fast flowing across the road into the island.
In the picture below, this fish pond was empty from years ago. This flooded and overflow and flooded the barn shown below this pond.
The saddest part was the 12 rescue animals was in the raging high
water and we couldn't do nothing about it. We have a Llama, two alpacas, a beefalo, two goats, a horse, pony and a donkey at the barn. As the flood receded we got to our animals.
The animals outside that was in the flood was OK. We opened the barn to see the goats was doing fine. There had been only 3 inches of water in the barn and all of the animals were unharmed and safe.
We opened the middle barn door and the hay and feed was completely dry.
I heard a song from a country singer, "There is a God, how
much proof do we need." And I sure do know there is a God.
All the fencing and the barn suffer damaged, but the babies were alright. A General Pipeline worker named Brian, helped hold parts of the fence up with a back hoe while Mike put the fence back temporally.
Because of the RD Bailey Dam, 20 minutes up the river, I thought we were safe. I never thought in my wildest dreams that the island would flood this bad.
The devastation that hit Gilbert WV is beyond discription. Stafford's Branch, Gilbert Creek, Ben Creek, Wharncliffe, Horsepen, Browning Fork and all the other hollars up above Gilbert, washed into Gilbert and most of Gilbert was flooded, and this came down on us. I can't recall ever seeing a flood like this since the 70's and before the RD Bailey Dam was installed.
I saw ATV's, campers, and pieces of homes and trailers going down the raging, muddy Guyandotte River.
Also Varney, Pie and all the Debarton to Williamson WV
area is wiped out.
The Passion Trail was flooded and there is trees uprooted, the ground is soft and deep with silk. Many of the light poles were uprooted. The main thing, the walkway bridge is unhinged of two feet that will need to be put back in place so that the public can cross it.
The water covered all the underpinning up to the doors of my house, gift shop, inn, bungalow, and bunkhouse, The water receded early morning and then we enter the island. We waded through
mud and water and opened the door to our house and it was dry.
Not one drop of flood water entered my house, lodging or campers.
The water knocked at the door but did not enter.
What a miracle and great blessings!
Men who works in this area, stays here by the month in campers,
all but 8 to 10 was just fine. We are hoping that they have insurance that will cover their lost.
Instead of washing away the island, in most places the island filled up three to six feet of mud, sand, and dirt.
Along the first row of campsites, the creek bank has given in and will need to be stabilized with rock.
General Pipeline has been assisting with the clean-up of silk, we thank God for them.
The electric transformers was completely under water and the power never went off. And it still on. What a miracle!
The water pump house was flooded with two feet of water and even though the pressure regulator was in water, my husband didn't think and used the water hose and it worked, in water! The water well is still working just fine. What a miracle!
Through all of this, to see the force of the water that flooded from Gilbert WV. To see the disaster that hit the island with flood waters. You would have to still believe: There is a God!
