On February 26, 1972, a catastrophic failure of a coal slurry dam in Buffalo Creek Hollow, West Virginia, resulted in the deaths of 125 people and caused widespread destruction in the surrounding communities. The floodwaters swept through several towns, obliterating homes and infrastructure. This disaster highlighted the risks associated with coal mining operations and led to significant changes in environmental regulations and mining practices in the United States.

The Buffalo Creek Flood Disaster of 1972 is documented in Appalachian literature, with poets like Louise McNeill using their work to address environmental justice and the human cost of industrial negligence, thus enriching the region's literary heritage.