When a pesticide formulation plant and warehouse at Massies Mill, Virginia, was destroyed by flood waters in 1969, it was not known whether the pesticides or other toxic materials had contaminated the river, and samples were urgently needed during the initial flood period. Boat sampling or sampling from a helicopter were unsafe, and representative sampling locations were inaccessible. It was decided that samples would be taken utilizing an aerial pick-up technique generally used for air rescue operations. The report describes this technique.