Hurricane Camille survivors to speak

By From staff reports
Published: April 15, 2009

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Two brothers who survived Hurricane Camille by clinging to trees as their family was swept away will be interviewed by a journalist who has written about them on Saturday, April 18, beginning at 1:30 p.m. as part of a series of programs marking the 40th anniversary of Camille sponsored by Oakland — The Nelson County Museum of History.

Warren and Carl Raines were 14 and 16 the nights of Aug. 19 and 20 in 1969, when Camille dumped more than 30 inches of rain above the Massies Mill community where they lived with their parents, a brother and two sisters. The Tye River flooded the entire valley where the Raines family lived, killing 31 people. Another 53 died along Davis Creek near Woods Mill. In all, 125 people lost their lives.

The interview with the Raines brothers will be conducted by Earl Swift Jr., a Norfolk journalist who has written about Camille and specifically about the Raines’ experience. The interview will be held at Nelson United Methodist Church, which is adjacent to Oakland on U.S. 29, about four miles south of Lovingston and one mile north of Colleen. Admission is $5 for adults. Children 12 and under are free. The funds will go towards development of a Camille Resource Center at Oakland.