Hurricane Camille became a tropical depression and soaked central Virginia with up to 28 inches of rain during the night of August 19th and morning of the 20th. The rains, flash floods, and rain-induced landslides accompanying the storm's passage have been called the worst natural disaster ever to strike Virginia.
Discharge of streams in the James, Potomac, Rappahapnock, and York River basins exceeded previous known maximums. At Tye River near Lovingston the peak flood discharge was eight times the previous high during the 31 years of record. James River stations downstream from the Maury River recorded peak flows of greater than 100-year recurrence interval.
As of Nov. 13, 1969, the State had counted 113 dead and 102 injured with 39 persons still missing. The total damage amounted to over $116 million.
This report provides hydrologic data needed for planning and design. The report includes a general description of the flood; precipitation information; sediment aspects of the flood; and records of stage and/or discharge for 105 sites.
