The Buffalo Creek Flood Collection

This powerful DVD collection brings together two essential films chronicling the devastating 1972 Buffalo Creek disaster and its long aftermath.

The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man (1975)
On February 26, 1972, a coal-waste dam owned by the Pittston Company collapsed in a narrow hollow of southern West Virginia, unleashing a torrent of sludge and water that killed 125 people and left over 4,000 homeless. This landmark documentary combines harrowing footage of the flood’s immediate aftermath with interviews from survivors, union leaders, and company officials, revealing damning evidence that the tragedy—dismissed by the company as an “act of God”—was in fact preventable. Inducted into the National Film Registry in 2005, this film remains a searing indictment of corporate negligence and regulatory failure.

Buffalo Creek Revisited (1984)
A decade later, Buffalo Creek Revisited returns to the valley to examine the ongoing struggle of survivors as they face a second, quieter disaster: the failure of government agencies and corporate interests to support community rebuilding. Through the voices of residents, mental health experts, and activists, filmmaker Mimi Pickering explores the lasting psychological toll of the flood, the erosion of community bonds, and the enduring legacy of exploitation in a region rich in resources but long denied justice.

Together, these two films offer a profound and deeply human portrait of disaster, resilience, and the fight for accountability in Appalachia.

All films in the Appalshop collection are protected under Title 17 of the United States Copyright Law. The unauthorized distribution or public performance of copyrighted works constitutes copyright infringement under the Copyright Act, Title 17 U.S Code Section 106(3)-(4). This conduct may also violate the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and The Universal Copyright Convention, as well as bilateral treaties with other countries that allow for protection of Rights Holder copyrighted works even beyond US borders. To receive rights for public performance of our works, including educational or institutional licensing, please contact Appalshop Sales to complete the purchase at 606-633-0108 or sales@appalshop.org.

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