Jul 12, 1996
Very heavy rain from a fast moving thunderstorm dumped 2 to 3 inches of rain within an hour over southern Jefferson County. Two people were killed near the town of Buffalo Creek when a 20-ft wall of water blasted through the area. Utility poles and trees were uprooted, cars, propane tanks and bridges were destroyed in the flood's path. Entire buildings were moved off their foundations or heavily damaged in the floodwaters. The first fatality occurred along Highway 126, when the driver of a p
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 5558277). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
This event is one of many recorded floods in Jefferson County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.