"The Story of the Flood"

The Flood main page | song & audio

In February of 1957 heavy rains caused disastrous floods in southwest Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and southern West Virginia. A dozen people died in the region, and thousands lost their homes. President Dwight Eisenhower declared 28 Appalachian counties disaster areas, and the National Guard was called in to help.

Carter Stanley of the famed bluegrass duo, the Stanley Brothers, wrote "The Story of the Flood" not to long after the event. The Stanley's home county, Dickenson, was one of the areas devastated by flooding. From the opening line, the song reflects traditional formulas for ballad narratives.