subject: Flood control--Virginia; Flood damage prevention—Virginia; Buchanan County (Va.)--History; Grundy (Va.)--Social life and customs; Levisa Fork Basin (Ky. and Va.); Big Sandy River Valley (Ky. and Va.); United States. Army. Corps of Engineers.

Paul Schreffler was born on July 28, 1951, in central Pennsylvania. His early life was marked by the death of his father when he was 20 months old, leading his family to relocate to Blairsville, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. He moved to Buffalo, New York, during his second-grade year after his mother remarried. Schreffler was a diligent student, earning a scholarship to the University of Buffalo, where he majored in music, studying under notable instructors such as Charlie Mingus.

Ralph Sandora was born on July 3, 1943, in Clarksburg, West Virginia. His family moved to Center Point, West Virginia, in 1957 when he was 13 years old. His father, an immigrant from Italy, arrived in the United States at the age of 11, while his mother was born in the United States to Italian parents. Ralph grew up in a close-knit family with two sisters. He pursued a career as a school bus driver in Doddridge County, West Virginia, and retired from this position.

Randy Moyer was born on July 20, 1963, and raised in Portage, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a close-knit community where outdoor activities like hunting and fishing were common. Moyer started working at the age of 13 and eventually became a long-haul truck driver, a profession he pursued for 18 years. He drove across the East Coast, covering over 3 million miles, and owned two tractor-trailers. Moyer's pride and joy is his son, with whom he shares a deep bond, engaging in various activities like fishing and riding a go-kart.

Robert Stewart Edwards was interviewed for the Steamboat Era Museum Oral History Project. Edwards, born on September 30, 1914, was a lifelong resident of Gwynn's Island with deep roots in the community. His family, including the Fosters, operated a canning factory that employed many locals and migrant workers. Edwards himself was involved in the fishing industry and later operated a marine railway with his father. The interview provides a rich account of life on Gwynn's Island, focusing on the local industry and community activities during Edwards' early years.

subject: Flood control--Virginia; Flood damage prevention—Virginia; Buchanan County (Va.)--History; Grundy (Va.)--Social life and customs; Levisa Fork Basin (Ky. and Va.); Big Sandy River Valley (Ky. and Va.); United States. Army. Corps of Engineers.

Ronald Cole is the operations manager for Virginia-Kentucky Broadcasting in Grundy, Virginia. He has been in broadcasting for over 26 years, primarily in Kentucky and Virginia. Cole was involved in broadcasting during the flood in Buchanan County, Virginia, in 1973. He received a phone call from the civil defense director, John Hash, warning of an impending flood due to heavy water systems moving in. Cole was responsible for opening the radio station early to announce the flood and provide information to the public.

Sarah Briscoe is an individual with a rich personal history deeply rooted in the seafood industry and domestic work. Born into a family where her father was a significant influence, Sarah was raised with a strong work ethic and a diverse skill set that was imparted to her at a young age. Her father, a man who shucked oysters and cleaned fish for a living, took on the role of both parents after the untimely death of Sarah's mother during childbirth.

Scott Rotruck was born on August 7, 1955, in Huntington, West Virginia, and grew up in Keyser, West Virginia. He attended Potomac State College before transferring to West Virginia University (WVU) in 1976, where he attempted to join the football team, but an Achilles tendon injury ended his athletic career. Rotruck then pursued a career with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, where he worked as an engineer and later moved into management after completing his MBA.

Sherry Becker-Gorby was born on December 30, 1952, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She was raised outside of Wheeling in a predominantly farming area. Her father's passion for working with animals and being outdoors influenced her upbringing. Despite her father's family not being farmers, he moved them to a small acreage outside Wheeling to provide an experience of rural life. Sherry's mother grew up in town, but her family had agricultural roots among the Mennonites in Virginia.