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.

Sue Branham, born on July 18, 1937, is the owner of The Corner, a ladies' and children's ready-to-wear business in downtown Grundy, Virginia. She purchased the existing business in March 1977 and continued to teach at Grundy Junior High School until 1991. Branham was directly impacted by the 1977 flood that occurred a month after she acquired the business. She resides on Route 83, outside the floodplain, and has been involved in the community's efforts to address the recurring flood issues. 

Interview with Suzanne Escott

Theodore Stump was born on April 7, 1949, and grew up in southern New Jersey. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware. During his early years, he worked in various factories, including General Motors. In 1978, he relocated to West Virginia as part of the rural revival of the 1970s. Attracted by the promise of free gas, he moved to Doddridge County, where he quickly learned about the separation of land and mineral rights. Stump became involved in the local landowners’ association and began advocating for the rights of landowners against gas extraction companies.

Tim Potter is the personnel director of the town of Grundy in Grundy, Virginia. He is involved in addressing the town's opportunities and challenges, particularly focusing on the flood project with the Corps of Engineers. 

The interview with Tina Del Prete and Mirijana Beram, conducted by Carrie Kline on November 4, 2013, provides a firsthand account of the impact of industrial changes on their hometown and the resulting environmental and health concerns. Tina Del Prete shares her experiences growing up in Penns Grove, New Jersey, and the subsequent decline of the town following industrial shifts, particularly the effects of fracking.

Thomas “Tom” L. Bonner was born in Gladwin, West Virginia in 1921. Bonner took part in West Virginia’s Civilian Conservation Corps and went on to serve in the United States Air Force during World War II. After the war, he returned home to Tucker County, where he lived with his wife, Freddie Rachel Waybright Bonner. Tom was working as a local bus driver when devastating floods struck the region in the fall of 1985. 

On April 3, 1986, Michael Kline interviewed Vittie and Thelma Lipscomb for the Tucker County, West Virginia Flood Audio Recordings project. Vittie Lipscomb, the eldest of ten children, grew up in Pine Run, West Virginia, and later moved closer to school. During the Great Depression, Vittie’s family farmed, selling produce to local mining communities. Vittie later served in World War II, participating in significant campaigns, including the D-Day invasion and the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest.