Within a ten-month period, two devastating floods struck McDowell County and its residents. The first major flood came on Sunday, July 8, 2001, after a series of heavy thunderstorms dropped over eight inches of rain. By early afternoon, Elkhorn Creek, Tug Fork River, and their tributaries overflowed, leaving the towns of Kimball, Landgraff, Eckman, Welch, Keystone, and Norfolk under water, knocking houses off their foundations, and leaving people homeless. On May 2, 2002, a second severe thunderstorm dropped over five inches of rain on McDowell County. Unlike the 2001 storm, this one caused extensive damage throughout the entire county. Roads, including U.S. Route 52, the main thoroughfare through the county, and bridges were closed because of high floodwater and debris from landslides. Residents were left stranded and without power and telephone service. The storm damaged over 2,000 structures and destroyed 170 homes and businesses, and McDowell County was again declared a federal disaster area. In the days that followed, communities came together to help one another rebuild their lives. Some residents removed mud and debris from their homes and businesses, while others decided not to rebuild and left the area. Local groups, along with the Salvation Army, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Army Corps of Engineers, National Guard, and others, assisted in the cleanup effort by setting up centers, providing shelter, and distributing food and water to residents affected by the floods. In the following years, many of the homes and buildings damaged by the flooding were removed.