Reviews

"Recommended. All levels/libraries." - CHOICE

"For anyone interested in the specifics of this or other disasters, including more recent events in New Orleans and the Indian Ocean tsunami, this is an important work. By visiting the site of such a "total" disaster almost four decades ago, the long-term survival of community and the perserverance of its people has not only been investigated but celebrated." - Rural Sociology

“Without in the least minimizing the catastrophe that struck Buffalo Creek, this book highlights the extent to which many of the community’s people have managed to rebuild their lives in the years since. The stories of individuals reveal the grit, resilience, faith, and even humor that helped them cope; and the author’s commonsense suggestions for avoiding similar disasters could save many from putting those qualities to the test.” – John Shelton Reed, William Rand Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology Emeritus, University of North Carolina, and author of The Enduring South

“Stories of the disruption of the 1972 flash flood in Buffalo Creek, WV, have been a staple in disaster research. The author has looked beyond the disruption to the long-term reconstruction of that occasion. It is a well-told comparative story of persistence, re-creation, and resilience of those conventionally described as victims. It offers realistic ideas for small communities in dealing with such impacts. It is an unusual, creative, and thoughtful analysis.” – Russell R. Dynes, Professor Emeritus and Co-Founder, Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware

“The author has done a great service to those of us who study, work, and live in rural communities. In this book, he provides detailed discussions with local residents, survey data, and a gift for integration that allows the reader to gain an understanding of how disasters impact communities in the short and long term.” – John C. Allen, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Western Rural Development Center, Utah State University