45 years have passed since a storm named “Camille” roared through Nelson County and wiped out entire families in places such as Massies Mill and areas near the Tye River. Camille was a full-blown hurricane on August 17th, 1969, when she caused death and destruction on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She had been downgraded to a tropical storm by August 19th and 20th, when she started soaking Virginia’s 29 corridor. Camille stalled against the mountain ridges of Nelson and the stormwater she generated was a late-night shock to the rural county. Nelsonians were not the only ones affected by Camille. She caused the James River to flood at Scottsville, and her visit helped to persuade its leaders to create a modern flood control system.