The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man (1975)

The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man (1975) poster

In 1972 a coal-waste dam owned by the Pittston Company collapsed at the head of a crowded hollow in southern West Virginia. A wall of sludge, debris, and water tore through the valley below, leaving in its wake 125 dead and 4,000 homeless. Interviews with survivors, representatives of union and citizen’s groups, and officials of the Pittston Company are juxtaposed with actual footage of the flood and scenes of the ensuing devastation. As reasons for the disaster are sought out and examined, evidence mounts that company officials knew of the hazard in advance of the flood, and that the dam was in violation of state and federal regulations. The Pittston Company, however, continued to deny any wrongdoing, maintaining that the disaster was an “act of God.”

Director: Mimi Pickering
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 40 min
Release Date:
Language: English
Original Language: en

Keywords

woman director

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man about?
In 1972 a coal-waste dam owned by the Pittston Company collapsed at the head of a crowded hollow in southern West Virginia. A wall of sludge, debris, and water tore through the valley below, leaving in its wake 125 dead and 4,000 homeless. Interviews with survivors, representatives of union and citizen’s groups, and officials of the Pittston Company are juxtaposed with actual footage of the flood and scenes of the ensuing devastation. As reasons for the disaster are sought out and examined, evidence mounts that company officials knew of the hazard in advance of the flood, and that the dam was in violation of state and federal regulations. The Pittston Company, however, continued to deny any wrongdoing, maintaining that the disaster was an “act of God.”
Who directed The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man?
The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man was directed by Mimi Pickering.
How long is The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man?
The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man has a runtime of 40m (40 minutes).
What genre is The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man?
The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man is a Documentary film.