Iowa Floods
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JerseyMike
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Wow ....
Thanks for sharing the pictures.
I'm speechless. I can't even begin to imagine the horror of it all. (Sigh)
Mike
Thanks for sharing the pictures.
I'm speechless. I can't even begin to imagine the horror of it all. (Sigh)
Mike
sdlee
Well-known member
know what you are going through....really
All of you guys in the flood waters and tornadoes have my sympathy. In 1972 my home town expierenced a devestating flash flood that killed 238 people in less than four hours.My entire family was in the waters that night.
This was a result of snow piling up until June first and then 17 inches of rain in two hours just nine days later. The dam on the west side of town broke and a 50 foot wall of water moving 35 miles an hour came crashing through the town. till this day I havent the words to really drive home what we survivors went through or the aftermath that followed.I do have; as many of my family members have; scars and marks on or bodies that are constant reminders from that night 36 years ago. At the time this was the second worst flood in US history second only to the Johnstown Flood in the 1800s
I am so happy to hear that you guys are doing some of the things that we did. Nieghbor and nieghbor pulling together. In our flood the day before the establishment and the hippies were busy hating and protesting each other. By morning they were side by side without issues. for the longest time afterwards prejudice seemed to have disappeared and still is only tolerated lightly here.
Today we have a beautiful green way and park system where the flood cut its path. This town ,now some 70,000 people but then only about 25,000 is still a strong,strong community and I think thats due to the fact that we faced such a tragedy way back when.
There are a lot of new people here, they cant comprehend what took place, you cant look at the little creek thats here and know that it had been for four hours a raging twisting monster killing and destroying whatever was unfortunate enough to be in its path but because of what is told to them they have a great respect for it and its survivors. You may think what youre going through now is tough but in the long run you will have a strength thats unbelieveable.Youre community will come back with muscle like never before.In youre personal lives you will be able to face controversy much better than most.
Again GoD Bless and please be safe. MY thoughts and prayers are with all of you.If any of you in the water need to vent hit me up. I will gladly listen.Lastly know that better days are on thier way to you.
All of you guys in the flood waters and tornadoes have my sympathy. In 1972 my home town expierenced a devestating flash flood that killed 238 people in less than four hours.My entire family was in the waters that night.
This was a result of snow piling up until June first and then 17 inches of rain in two hours just nine days later. The dam on the west side of town broke and a 50 foot wall of water moving 35 miles an hour came crashing through the town. till this day I havent the words to really drive home what we survivors went through or the aftermath that followed.I do have; as many of my family members have; scars and marks on or bodies that are constant reminders from that night 36 years ago. At the time this was the second worst flood in US history second only to the Johnstown Flood in the 1800s
I am so happy to hear that you guys are doing some of the things that we did. Nieghbor and nieghbor pulling together. In our flood the day before the establishment and the hippies were busy hating and protesting each other. By morning they were side by side without issues. for the longest time afterwards prejudice seemed to have disappeared and still is only tolerated lightly here.
Today we have a beautiful green way and park system where the flood cut its path. This town ,now some 70,000 people but then only about 25,000 is still a strong,strong community and I think thats due to the fact that we faced such a tragedy way back when.
There are a lot of new people here, they cant comprehend what took place, you cant look at the little creek thats here and know that it had been for four hours a raging twisting monster killing and destroying whatever was unfortunate enough to be in its path but because of what is told to them they have a great respect for it and its survivors. You may think what youre going through now is tough but in the long run you will have a strength thats unbelieveable.Youre community will come back with muscle like never before.In youre personal lives you will be able to face controversy much better than most.
Again GoD Bless and please be safe. MY thoughts and prayers are with all of you.If any of you in the water need to vent hit me up. I will gladly listen.Lastly know that better days are on thier way to you.
Indirectly I had to deal with the RC flood of 1972.My Stepmom and Dad were in it-they were trying to leave their house and were caught in Dad's truck-they escapted the truck before it was washed away and each one spent the night in a tree.I was on the "Missing" list until I called in.I was in Wash DC at the time visiting my Mom.I missed the flood by a week-left before it hit.My Dads home was totally destroyed by the flood.It was at the foot of Canyon Lake Dam-when the dam ruptured-the home was leveled.Saw the aftermath when I got home-unbeleivable!The creek that went thru our backyard was still there along with a large elm tree.At that time only had the clothes and possesions that were in my suitcase I packed to go to Moms place.Qualified for the State's $50 clothing allowance.Ened up with another suitcase to carry the things home in-only to a HUD trailer.Was going to college at the time.
Other folks I was thankful for during that flood were my Mom's freinds and neighbors-they gave me clothes and things to use.Was able to replace my wardrobe from them and the SD clothing allowance.Now,can you imagine how much clothing $50 would buy today!
I had never heard of this tragic flood, but I found a site with some pictures of the aftermath. In the photo on the right under the heading "Damage to Personal Property," there is this information about the concrete silo in the picture: it is a USGS survey gauge which registered a maximum water flow of 2600 cubic feet per second in its 20 year history. On June 9, 1972, discharge at this point was 31,200 cubic feet per second.
Flash floods cause more deaths than any other weather-related event, but there are many dangerous weather situations. I hope everyone who does not have a radio with a weather alert feature will strongly consider acquiring one. And, please, if you are considering living anywhere near even a seasonal creek or a bone-dry ditch, check on its flood plain, the elevation of your proposed property and live far above it. Live on the hill, not at its bottom. In the Spring of 1963, parts of Atlanta were hit with flash flooding and I mean many more areas than that flooding favorite Peachtree Battle Creek. There was no forecast of flooding rains before we went to bed, but hell broke loose during the night. Among the many people awakened by the noise of the storm were friends who went down to their family room to see if water was leaking in. Luckily one of them opened the draperies on the sliding glass door just in time to see the frame start to bend from the weight of the water flowing 7 feet deep across it. They just made it to the stairs before the door gave way and in an instant their house was uninhabitable, but they could have been swept away. At least we now have communication pathways to send out warnings. Please be careful and stay safe. Reading the survivor stories here just hammers home how precious and fragile all life is.
Flash floods cause more deaths than any other weather-related event, but there are many dangerous weather situations. I hope everyone who does not have a radio with a weather alert feature will strongly consider acquiring one. And, please, if you are considering living anywhere near even a seasonal creek or a bone-dry ditch, check on its flood plain, the elevation of your proposed property and live far above it. Live on the hill, not at its bottom. In the Spring of 1963, parts of Atlanta were hit with flash flooding and I mean many more areas than that flooding favorite Peachtree Battle Creek. There was no forecast of flooding rains before we went to bed, but hell broke loose during the night. Among the many people awakened by the noise of the storm were friends who went down to their family room to see if water was leaking in. Luckily one of them opened the draperies on the sliding glass door just in time to see the frame start to bend from the weight of the water flowing 7 feet deep across it. They just made it to the stairs before the door gave way and in an instant their house was uninhabitable, but they could have been swept away. At least we now have communication pathways to send out warnings. Please be careful and stay safe. Reading the survivor stories here just hammers home how precious and fragile all life is.
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sd.water.usgs.gov
My Dad and Stepmom live in a home they built in the Hills on the other side of town where they used to live.And they live HIGHER now-high enough if any of the dams in the area break they will not get flooded.Now the worry is occasional wildfires.They have an "evacuation kit" and a fire hose and pump.And another "survivor" of that 1972 flood was a new 1972 Maytag washer that was bought a week before the flood.Remember vividly the day we all brought it home and installed it-My Stepmom was so pleased-the Maytag replaced an older KN washer.(The KN had a fat black RS agitator)Dad just couldn't keep the KN going anymore.Well that Maytag washer was found after the flood-and the local Maytag dealer rebuilt it!and it was used for about 25 yrs after the flood.The cabinet looked beat up-but the machine worked fine.The washer and a beat up rifle my Dad has reminds us of that event.The flooded Maytag is gone now-but he still has that rifle.I used to hunt deer with it.The stock is beat up-but it still shoots just fine.and is used for hunting today.The flooded Maytag was replaced by another-in the early 90's-last of the good Maytags.
mayken4now
Well-known member
I know how all the affected folks feel. We have gone through it with hurricanes down here in Fl.
I hope and pray that your government will picth in.
Steve
I hope and pray that your government will picth in.
Steve
And as the clean-up begins-----
there will be plenty of vintage appliances headed to the krusher. Many old barns, garages, basements,storage sheds and buildings will be cleared of a lot of relics from days gone by.
I remember (in Gulfport, MS.)literally huge mountains of washers/dryers/dishwashers/refrigs., etc. waiting for the krusher from the Katrina clean-up. The mechanical claws used to remove them from the curbside, pinching and smashing them up----not like the minor "moving trauma" we encounter so much with the usual appliance delivery people.
Because of our interest in preserving these old treasures they seem important to us, but those people who have lost everyting certainly don't see things that way.
Imagine all the abandoned pets and livestock now wandering around! Heartbreaking!
All the uninsured people who will now have to start from scratch to re-build their lives----just when Bush's ill-begotten money-pit of an invasion into Iraq is finally crashing our economy. (Not to mention what he and his big-oil cronies have done.) All the lost jobs and businesses----it all could not have come at a worse time in our nation's history. But, hey, Bush came for a visit and flew over everything so I'm sure everyone will feel inspired now.
Oh well---the list goes on and on. I wish them well.
Hopefully some of the flooded-out vintage appliances will make it onto Craigslist or E-Bay where they can be salvaged and restored.
there will be plenty of vintage appliances headed to the krusher. Many old barns, garages, basements,storage sheds and buildings will be cleared of a lot of relics from days gone by.
I remember (in Gulfport, MS.)literally huge mountains of washers/dryers/dishwashers/refrigs., etc. waiting for the krusher from the Katrina clean-up. The mechanical claws used to remove them from the curbside, pinching and smashing them up----not like the minor "moving trauma" we encounter so much with the usual appliance delivery people.
Because of our interest in preserving these old treasures they seem important to us, but those people who have lost everyting certainly don't see things that way.
Imagine all the abandoned pets and livestock now wandering around! Heartbreaking!
All the uninsured people who will now have to start from scratch to re-build their lives----just when Bush's ill-begotten money-pit of an invasion into Iraq is finally crashing our economy. (Not to mention what he and his big-oil cronies have done.) All the lost jobs and businesses----it all could not have come at a worse time in our nation's history. But, hey, Bush came for a visit and flew over everything so I'm sure everyone will feel inspired now.
Oh well---the list goes on and on. I wish them well.
Hopefully some of the flooded-out vintage appliances will make it onto Craigslist or E-Bay where they can be salvaged and restored.
And, sadly, unless you have flood insurance, flood damage is not covered. Many of these people were in areas that never flooded before and were not required to have it so they lost everything.
I don't think that appliances that were caught in that witch's brew of filthy water would be candidates for Craig's list unless someone went to the trouble to really clean them inside and out before listing them. Otherwise they would toxic and pathogenic to have sitting around.
I don't think that appliances that were caught in that witch's brew of filthy water would be candidates for Craig's list unless someone went to the trouble to really clean them inside and out before listing them. Otherwise they would toxic and pathogenic to have sitting around.
sdlee
Well-known member
thx tomturbomatic and tolivac
totourbomatic.....wow i didnt know that site existed. one can surely see what went on by those pictures. Two of them hit me hard, the first one is the one that they show the debries where a lot of bodies were found. My uncle found a two year old boy in such a pile. In the background you can see some shingle sided condominiums. Two of my brothers and my grandfather did all that shingleing to those places
The other one is the trailor house, pretty much resembles what ours looked like the morning after.Im not sure it isnt ours, just taken from the other side of the pictures I have. I can not believe my brothers and i walked away alive from that, so many people around us died that night.
tolivac.......hahha 50s bucks...Id forgotten that. You could use it for anything made from cloth material so we bought sheets and rugs too. We got an SBA loan for new housing but we too spent a lil time in a one of those hud trailors.Most of my moms family who lost thier houses had one and they all had the same floor plans and the same colors and appliances.Actrually my mom kept her appliances (out of the Hud trailor) up until 1984.Avacado green rules!!!
We too got a GE Flooded washer and dryer set from Fischer furniture (which still exists). They said theyd gone through them and they were safe sooooooo we had those too until 84 and the washer is stuill around at af amily friends house and still in use.
I laughed at your parental units in the tree. My oldest brother spent the night in a tree. My parents got stuck in Piedmont, my oldest brother (then just 21) was suppose to be babysitting us hit the road as soon as mom and dad were out of the trailor court, He went to the Alibi Bar (rememeber that) and before he knew it he and the waitress were floating down Omaha on top of her car.He grabbed her and grabbed a tree branch and they crawled up into what appeared to be a safer situation, one of my aunts was the lady who was rescued by the national guard the next morning. She spent the night on top of the safeway sign. Seems a lil funny now but think of the raging killing water below and the crazy insane lightening above.Plus my aunt said every time a house or a car would hit that safe way sign the whole thing richocheted all over the place.
you mentioned the missing list. My mom and dad were not able to get back into town so my brother had them listed as missing but becuse of a mix up what came across the airways was that my parents children had been found dead.My parents heard this ofcorse on the car radio as they were trying desprately to get back into Rapid city. I cannot imagine thier torture.
I would love to chat with your dad. I am so happy you avoided the waters that night. You were very lucky things worked out for you as they had but I know you saw enough to make it just as real to you and leave you with the same devistation.The clean up of rapid lasted a good ten years.Ive been through a lot of things in this crazy life but I think the strength in who I am and what I have become as an adult is largely shaped by what occured that night.Plus great parenting!
totourbomatic.....wow i didnt know that site existed. one can surely see what went on by those pictures. Two of them hit me hard, the first one is the one that they show the debries where a lot of bodies were found. My uncle found a two year old boy in such a pile. In the background you can see some shingle sided condominiums. Two of my brothers and my grandfather did all that shingleing to those places
The other one is the trailor house, pretty much resembles what ours looked like the morning after.Im not sure it isnt ours, just taken from the other side of the pictures I have. I can not believe my brothers and i walked away alive from that, so many people around us died that night.
tolivac.......hahha 50s bucks...Id forgotten that. You could use it for anything made from cloth material so we bought sheets and rugs too. We got an SBA loan for new housing but we too spent a lil time in a one of those hud trailors.Most of my moms family who lost thier houses had one and they all had the same floor plans and the same colors and appliances.Actrually my mom kept her appliances (out of the Hud trailor) up until 1984.Avacado green rules!!!
We too got a GE Flooded washer and dryer set from Fischer furniture (which still exists). They said theyd gone through them and they were safe sooooooo we had those too until 84 and the washer is stuill around at af amily friends house and still in use.
I laughed at your parental units in the tree. My oldest brother spent the night in a tree. My parents got stuck in Piedmont, my oldest brother (then just 21) was suppose to be babysitting us hit the road as soon as mom and dad were out of the trailor court, He went to the Alibi Bar (rememeber that) and before he knew it he and the waitress were floating down Omaha on top of her car.He grabbed her and grabbed a tree branch and they crawled up into what appeared to be a safer situation, one of my aunts was the lady who was rescued by the national guard the next morning. She spent the night on top of the safeway sign. Seems a lil funny now but think of the raging killing water below and the crazy insane lightening above.Plus my aunt said every time a house or a car would hit that safe way sign the whole thing richocheted all over the place.
you mentioned the missing list. My mom and dad were not able to get back into town so my brother had them listed as missing but becuse of a mix up what came across the airways was that my parents children had been found dead.My parents heard this ofcorse on the car radio as they were trying desprately to get back into Rapid city. I cannot imagine thier torture.
I would love to chat with your dad. I am so happy you avoided the waters that night. You were very lucky things worked out for you as they had but I know you saw enough to make it just as real to you and leave you with the same devistation.The clean up of rapid lasted a good ten years.Ive been through a lot of things in this crazy life but I think the strength in who I am and what I have become as an adult is largely shaped by what occured that night.Plus great parenting!
Tolivac and sdlee-------
you guys are wise beyond your years, having gone through those experiences. I hope ya'll never have to go through it again!
Thank you for your insight into what it is like to experience such a trauma.
you guys are wise beyond your years, having gone through those experiences. I hope ya'll never have to go through it again!
Thank you for your insight into what it is like to experience such a trauma.
sdlee
Well-known member
how cool
todays POD is of the washer I speak of in the above thread.i also mention it in an earlier thread this year and even posted apicture of it with my nephew sitting in it. Some of you may think that was me but it wasnt, it was him. I just never clarified that. Right after Jon1077 posted pictures of him by the one his family had.
Gyrafoam thank you for the compliment. Ive been told many times that I have an old soul but the truth is this soul has lived through A LOT.
I refelct back on the flood often when I am facing what seems impossible or i hear people bitchin about how bad they have it.It can always be worse.been there,done that hahah...it gets me through a lot.Something that may not have occured to yall is that I was only 8 years old when I went through this. 4 hours later I was feeling 88.
Recently a co I work for did profiles on us employees for thier yearly newsletter and in it Im quoted as saying the most remarkeable thing about my life is that if i could live it all oger again there is very little i would change. Most people who know me know that Im a flood survivor, and they say even that? and I say yep.Its so much of who I am i wouldnt have changed it for the world.( now dont get me wrong i am referring to me and my expierence) all those peole who died and lost people Id like to have that change to death count of zero.But thats not in my power.we really cant understand the power of what it is that runs this old world.Im glad for my chapter in it.
As Ive been recounting this I am realizing that I have totally hi jacked this thread. I am most sorry. Again all you flooded and stormed out people have my love and support.Ive been praying every night for your saftey and peace of mind.
todays POD is of the washer I speak of in the above thread.i also mention it in an earlier thread this year and even posted apicture of it with my nephew sitting in it. Some of you may think that was me but it wasnt, it was him. I just never clarified that. Right after Jon1077 posted pictures of him by the one his family had.
Gyrafoam thank you for the compliment. Ive been told many times that I have an old soul but the truth is this soul has lived through A LOT.
I refelct back on the flood often when I am facing what seems impossible or i hear people bitchin about how bad they have it.It can always be worse.been there,done that hahah...it gets me through a lot.Something that may not have occured to yall is that I was only 8 years old when I went through this. 4 hours later I was feeling 88.
Recently a co I work for did profiles on us employees for thier yearly newsletter and in it Im quoted as saying the most remarkeable thing about my life is that if i could live it all oger again there is very little i would change. Most people who know me know that Im a flood survivor, and they say even that? and I say yep.Its so much of who I am i wouldnt have changed it for the world.( now dont get me wrong i am referring to me and my expierence) all those peole who died and lost people Id like to have that change to death count of zero.But thats not in my power.we really cant understand the power of what it is that runs this old world.Im glad for my chapter in it.
As Ive been recounting this I am realizing that I have totally hi jacked this thread. I am most sorry. Again all you flooded and stormed out people have my love and support.Ive been praying every night for your saftey and peace of mind.
