1985 Election Day Flood in Richmond

Read and see for yourself the impact the 1985 Election Day Flood had on downtown Richmond.

On November 4 and 5, 1985, Richmond was flooded by the James River due to torrential rains throughout the whole sate. The flood was linked to Hurricane Juan, a tropical cyclone part of the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season.  The flood was nicknamed “Election Day Flood” because gubernational elections in Virginia took place at the same time. On November 7, the river rose to 30.76 ft (9.38 m), closing a portion of Interstate 95 and several bridges. The following photographs from the Valentine’s archival collection reveal the flood’s impact on downtown Richmond.

This video, courtesy of tvnewsbadge, shows raw color footage of the flood.

Four Virginia Electric and Power Company employees row in boat down Everett and 5th Street.
November 7, 1985
Kevin P. Morley
Richmond Times-Dispatch Collection
V.86.228.183

Three men stand next to large pile of sandbags at Reynolds Metals Company’s south plant on Bainbridge Street.
November 7, 1985
Kevin P. Morley
Richmond Times-Dispatch Collection
V.86.228.184

Employees of Crawford Manufacturing Company use a motorboat to get to the intersection of 3rd and Decatur Streets.
November 7, 1985
Kevin P. Morley
Richmond Times-Dispatch Collection
V.86.228.182

 

Virginia Electric and Power Company employees row in a small boat along 5th Streeta and Stockton Street on the south side of Richmond.
November 7, 1985
Kevin P. Morley
Richmond Times-Dispatch Collection
V.86.228.185

Stephanie Trujillo
PR & Marketing Intern
The Valentine