top of page

A MOUNTAIN TOWN UNDERWATER

In 2016, the small town of Rainelle, West Virginia experienced a "thousand year flood." In total, 16 people died and 90% of the homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. This singular event altered the trajectory of an entire town. Two years later, residents whose lives were upended are still left wondering: Will Rainelle ever recover or will it be another casualty, a relic of days past?

DSC_6373_2.JPG

​Over the past 50 years, nearly 400,000 volunteers from across the nation have come together to repair nearly 18,000 homes.

"I want you to understand that having a house, on my land, with my family there, is better to me than winning any lottery."

-- DON CRUISE, RAINELLE RESIDENT

DSC_6892.JPG
bottom of page