Partnering with the Kentucky Division of Water, the National Weather ServicesOhio River Forecast Center, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the NASA team looked at three years of Ohio Valley floods. [16] Many flooded mines were deemed condemned which left the local economy crippled. 12 square miles (31km2) of the city's area was flooded,[12] the water supply was cut, and streetcar service was curtailed. The crest of the river was reached on March 7 and hit 70.47 ft. Interstates 64 and 65 were closed. [15] Floodwaters reached nearly 30 miles (50km) inland and Harrisburg was nearly destroyed. That was the case in February 2018, when the worst flooding in more than two decades swamped several states along the Ohio River. The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 was the most destructive river flood in the history of the United States, with 27,000 square miles (70,000 km2) inundated in depths of up to 30 feet (9 m) over the course of several months in early 1927. Jeffersonville welcomed the 1,000 WPA workers who came to rescue that city's residents. That much rain in such a short time meant that waters rose well above the flood line- in some cases as much as 50 feet above! Although it was not the first, the flooding of the Ohio River in January of 1937 is the worst recorded flooding of the river in history. The overall scope of the flood surpassed the major floods of 1884 and 1773, and geological evidence suggests the 1937 flood outdid any previous flood. River Voices: 1937 Ohio River Flood in Portsmouth (VHS transfer), 3. More than 100,000 persons were left homeless by the disaster. Spotter Training From its tributaries to where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, the massive river includes rapids, wetlands, floodplains, lakes and swamps. Ninety percent of Jeffersonville, Indiana was flooded. The levee is the most visible reminder - built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect the city from a future catastrophe. Seventy percent of Louisville was submerged, forcing 175,000 residents to flee. After each flood, people shoveled the mud from their doors and set about rebuilding their towns. Stormwater from the protected area is pumped into the river through 16 pumping stations. High water had reached 30 miles (48km) from the river, and the city was flooded in its position among tributary lowlands of the Saline River. Tremendous precipitation would mark a 12 day period from Jan 13-24 (see image below of the rainfall analyses of this 12 day rain). Aviation The flood was particularly difficult for the city of Cincinnati, where flood levels reached almost eighty feet. The 1937 flood remains the flood of record for many locations along the Ohio River, leaving an estimated 350 dead and nearly 1 Million homeless. We can use [the NASA data] to calculate an estimated flood depth, which is one of the most important things for us to know and understand during a flood., Carey Johnson, Kentucky Division of Water. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. Over the coming years, storage reservoirs were built in the surrounding area to reduce high water levels on the Ohio River. The Ohio stayed above flood stage until Feb. 6. 4. At Louisville, the crest of the 1937 flood is still a full ten feet higher than the second highest crest (set in 1945)! Storm Prediction Center In the flood of 1937, while there was a U.S. Click on the images for larger versions. These records have never been beaten. Thirty-seven people have died, including four children, and hundreds are expected to lose their homes after torrential rains unleashed flash flooding and mudslides across eastern Kentucky. Most communities located along rivers in the state experienced flooding, even those that had not had problems in the past. Bernett (Bennie) Davis, second from the left standing on the truck body, came all the way to Louisville to help with the flood relief efforts. The workers were headquartered at the State Fair Grounds, where the flood victims were also transported by the Red Cross during the disaster. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction In 1884, the Ohio River washed away 2,000 homes. In 1937, southern Ohio faced one of the worst floods in its history. 2Quotes Set your sight on that little brass marker in the county courthouse, look out past the door, and imagine a level mark across the town at that height, and you can begin to get an idea of the shock of that flood. The Ohio River is formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers at Point State Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The flood was caused from the thawing of the Ohio River combined with 19 days of pouring rain. Image Courtesy of the Scioto Historical Collection, Digital History Lab, Clark Memorial Library, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, Ohio. Crests were 20 to 28 feet (8.5m) above flood stage and 4 to 9 feet (2.7m) above the previous record of 1884. In January 1937, the Ohio River reached a record crest from near Huntington, WV down to it's confluence with the Mississippi in a flood that remains the flood of records to date. In Louisville, the water reached a height of 40 feet, which resulted in almost 70 percent of the entire city being underwater. Communities along the Ohio River in Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois also faced serious problems. Click on the image to see a larger version Nevertheless, eleven Arkansas waterways overflowed, inundating or otherwise affecting seventeen . Daily Temp/Precip Maps During the 1997 Ohio River flood, major flooding impacted a total of six states, killing 33 people: 21 in Kentucky, 5 in Ohio, 4 in Tennessee, and 3 in West Virginia. The images below are used by permission from several historical societies and collections. It was the best of times.". Rains began to fall throughout the valley in January 1937, causing the Ohio River to flood. By way of comparison, flood stage is 55 feet. Hey Friend, Before You Go.. We are also very thankful to Sherri Lane, who donated the photos shown in this collection. In 1937, my family lived with my mother's parents in a farmhouse overlooking the Ohio River. The house had two rooms in the main part, a very large living room, and a very large bedroom. All NOAA. Over 19 inches of rain fell over the course of the month. Clay City, Heidelberg, Jackson, Paintsville, and Salyersville also saw significant river flooding of which hadn't been seen in 40 to 50 years. For nearly three weeks, 27,000 residents were forced to flee to stay with friends and relatives in higher ground in McCracken County or in other counties. Editor Wilbur Cogshall of the Louisville Courier-Journal slept, ate and drank at his desk. The January 1937 precipitation remains the all-time wettest month in Cincinnati records, at 13.68. In Bardstown Junction, the water was twelve feet deep. [14] Residents were rapidly evacuated from river town by train and bus in the early stages of the flood, making Indiana the only state to avoid drowning fatalities. Fort Campbell To only slightly change a phrase from the Charles Dickens book A Tale of Two Cities, "It was the worst of times. [17] By the time the flood waters had receded, 4000 were left homeless. The Ohio River flood was much worse downstream near Louisville and toward Paducah Kentucky, as January 1937 rain totals in central Kentucky ranged from 18 to just over 20 inches. There really wasn't much snow but there was bunch of rain in the Ohio Valley basin. Jacob Reed with contributions by Christian Thomas, NASA Disasters, 2021-2026 Applied Sciences Strategic Plan Released, Perry Oddo: Helping NASAs Water Research Make a Global Splash, Tracking Ozone Pollution in the Great Lakes Region, Making Cashmere More Sustainable, From Desert to Runway, Surf and Turf: Studying Land to Help Protect Reefs, Enter the World of Earth Science through the Applications Guidebook, Seeing the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill from Space, NASA Partnership Launches Groundbreaking New Global Flood Early Warning Technology, Sharing NASA Science at the 2022 Understanding Risk Global Forum. Most - if not all - communities located along Ohio rivers experienced flooding. Temperatures dipped to 20 degrees. (Rated Start-class, High-importance) United States portal. Several businesses in the Louisville area were devastated, especially the famed Rose Island amusement park (on the Indiana side of the river near Charlestown), which never rebuilt. 1-Stop Drought 1-Stop Winter Forecast [19] According to the Sanborn Map Company, Harrisburg in October 1925 had a population of 15,000, and in a revised version by January 1937 the population had fallen to 13,000. Louisville, where light and water services had failed, was the hardest hit city along the Ohio River. And so, there was humor to be had, even in the darkest of times. , How many people died in the Yellow river flood in 1938? MEET THE AUTHOR: Casto and Bob Withers will be signing copies of their latest books from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Borders at the Huntington Mall. One contemporary source estimated that damage was done to the tune of $250,000,000 (1937 dollars)that's over $3.3 billion in current dollars!! Questions? HUNTINGTON On Jan. 27, 1937, the Ohio River crested here in the worst flood in local recorded history. Since its completion in 1943, the Huntington floodwall it is estimated that it has prevented an estimated $238.8 million in flood damage. The Ohio River Flood of 1937 caused more than twenty million dollars in damages. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. Local Product Criteria. People labeled it the "granddaddy" of all floods. The record crest along the Ohio River in 1937 surpassed previously- known records by 6 to 9 feet from near Huntington, WV to the confluence near Cairo, IL. This caused for water to start rushing into the city; by midday, the water had risen to a total of 9 feet. Significance: The flood of record for the Ohio River; $20 million in damages. Cricnca is a website that writes about many topics of interest to you, a blog that shares knowledge and insights useful to everyone in many fields. According the several local historians, the town of Gallipolis was completely submerged as high as the mound hill cemetery overlook, and many rumors regarding the curse of Lafayette's Gold Treasure buried by slaves on Gallipolis Island began to surface around the town. Search. No way to keep up. The Cincinnati/Ohio River Forecast Center, along with the Kansas City River Forecast Centers, were the first 2 such offices in the country charged with providing forecasts for select rivers in the U.S. Below on the left is a photo of the Gloucester, MA Water Department. Rate this book. The Ohio River flood was much worse downstream near Louisville and toward Paducah Kentucky, as January 1937 rain totals in central Kentucky ranged from 18 to just over 20 inches. The photos are from an album that Sherri bought at an estate sale. 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