We are Madison and Greg Carter, parents to our daughter Eva, living in Valley Grove, West Virginia. On Saturday, June 14, 2025, our quiet village was devastated by a flash flood that struck without warning.
We had just gotten home from Greg’s little brother’s graduation party so Eva could take a nap. It was sunny and peaceful for about an hour after we got home, honestly, it looked like a perfect summer day.
Then out of nowhere, the skies opened up and it started pouring. We heard a lightning strike, and then a loud crash behind the house. We ran to check, and a tree had fallen just two feet from our back door. While we were looking at it, we noticed the creek behind our house had risen—fast. And then, just seconds later, we watched a wall of water come crashing through our neighbors’ yards straight toward us. It was a flash flood in every sense of the word.
We had no time. Eva was asleep on the couch in just a diaper—I snatched her up and we ran. By the time we reached the car, the water was already up to my knees. The look of fear in Eva’s eyes is something I will never forget. It’s burned into me.
We made it to higher ground near the house, but when we tried to get out, we were completely surrounded. Every road around us was blocked by fast-moving, rising water. The only way out was through one of the flooded areas. The water came up to our car doors and started pushing us sideways toward the creek. I genuinely thought we weren’t going to make it. Eva was freaking out and all I could do was tell her it would be okay while thinking the last words I spoke to her would be a lie. But somehow—somehow—we caught traction and were able to speed out of the current and escape.
I have never been more terrified in my entire life.
By some miracle, we made it out. But the land beneath our trailer was ripped out by the force of the water. The creek bank now begins directly under our bedroom. Our sewage lines were torn away by the flood, making the home unlivable. My motorcycle was swept away entirely, and my car took heavy damage in the chaos.
We have water, but no working sewage. We are currently staying in a hotel while trying to figure out what comes next. We’re asking for help to find safe housing and get back on our feet. We need to replace what we’ve lost and secure transportation so we can work toward long-term stability.
Our entire village is hurting. Lives were lost, homes destroyed, and families scattered. Please help if you can, or share this with someone who might be able to. Every bit of support matters more than we can say.
Thank you for reading. Please keep Valley Grove in your thoughts.
