1938 — Feb 27-Mar 4, storm/flash flooding, esp. LA/62, Orange/45 counties, So. CA– >146

–>146 Blanchard, using our county tally and Simpson.*

–>400 UP. “Red Cross Estimates 400 Dead in L.A. Flood Wake.” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-7-1938, 1.
–~300 Dead and missing. Shafter Press, CA. “Flood Loss Is Heavy.” 3-10-1938, p. 1.
–~250 Blackstock. “Inland Empire…in storm water in 1938.” Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 8-18-2014.
—<250 San Mateo Times, CA. “L.A….Shortage; Death Toll Now Near 250.” 3-4-1938, p. 1. -- 210 NOAA. A History of Significant Weather Events in Southern California…, Jan 2007. -->200 Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1982, p. 193.
— 200 Dead or missing. Oakland Tribune, CA. “New L.A. Storm Forecast…” 3-6-1938, p. 2.
— 177 AP. “$52,000,000 Set by Merriam as Storm Loss.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-7-1938, 1.
— 146 Blanchard tally from county breakouts below.
— 144 Simpson. “History/Society. Los Angeles Flood of 1938…Destruction Begins.” KCET, 2-27-2012.
— 142 Bakersfield Californian. “New Gale Reported on Way Inland From Sea Tonight.” 3-9-1938, 6.
— 139 UP. “Mass Funerals in Flood Zone.” Hayward Daily Review, CA, 3-7-1938, p. 1.
— 115 Suburban EM Project. Los Angeles Basin’s 1938 Catastrophic Flood Event. 6-7-2006.
— 104 “Known dead.” San Mateo Times. “L.A….Shortage; Death Toll Now Near 250.” 3-4-1938, p.1.
— >96 Roderick. “Deadly Flood of 1938 Left Its Mark on Southland.” Los Angeles Times. 10-20-1999.
— 87 Paulson et al. “National Water Summary 1988-89 – Hydrologic Events and Floods…”
— 87 Troxell/USGS. Floods of March 1938 in Southern California. 1942, p. 1.
— 81 American Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods–1938. 1939, p. 9.
— 79 Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, 81.
— 79 Sav. Natural Disasters: Some Empirical and Economic Considerations. 1974, p. 22

*It is our belief that all the higher numbers reported here include reports of missing persons. There may well have been additional fatalities, but we try to count, not estimate.

Summary of County Breakouts

Los Angeles County (62) San Bernardino County (19)
Mariposa County ( 9) Santa Barbara County ( 1)
Orange County (45) Ventura County ( 4)
Riverside County ( 6) Total 146

Breakout of Storm, Flooding, Landslide-related Fatalities by Locality (where noted)

Los Angeles County (62)
–100 Lloyd, “In March 1938, the Catastrophic LA River Flood Devastated Los Angeles.” 2017.
— 77 Plus 88 missing. AP. “Hail Rakes Flooded L.A.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 3-8-1938, p.D15.
— 62 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below, not including missing.
— 45 Plus 26 missing. AP. “$52,000,000 Set…as Storm Loss.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-7-1938, 1.
Breakout of Los Angeles County storm/flood/landslide-related fatalities by locality:
— 2 Beverly Glen. Landslide; Mrs. Rachel Whitman and 18-month old son Donald.
— 4 Big Tujunga Wash.
–1 Body recovered; Carmen Alvidrez, 10 months. AP. “Revised List…” Trib., 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Unidentified male, about 80. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Unidentified female. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Unidentified female, about 50; body taken from Big Tujunga wash.
— 4 Camp Baldy.
–1 Victor Haddock. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 William Hedlund. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Mrs. Johns. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Mrs. Roy T. Savage. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 1 Claremont.
–1 Unidentified female, 45. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 1 Glendale. Warren H. Atherton. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 1 Griffith Park. Walker Gray, 50.
— 1 Hansen’s Camp. Heart attack during flooding; William H. Kalls, 51.
— 1 Laurel Canyon. Unidentified man.
— 1 Lomita. Otis Pedersen, 34. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–10 Long Beach.
–1 John Croft, 50. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p. 3.
–1 Paul A. Gaye, 24, USS Chicago. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 William V. Gray, 32.
–1 Lemuel L. Stewart, 24. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p. 3.
–1 Charles Yount, USS Pennsylvania. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Locale not noted. J.C. Matchie, 21, USS California. AP. “Revised List…” Trib., 3-5-1938, 3.
–1 Locale not noted. Unidentified female, 26, fell into ocean; pedestrian bridge collapse.
–1 Locale not noted. Unidentified female, ~32, fell into ocean; pedestrian bridge collapse.
–1 Locale not noted. Unidentified male, 2, fell into ocean; pedestrian bridge collapsed.
–1 Long Beach pedestrian bridge collapse. Unidentified male.
— 8 Los Angeles.
–1 Charles Porter. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–2 Landslide; Mrs. Ruth Randall, 34; Leonard Travis Randall, 6.
–1 Philip R. S. Stevenson. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Mrs. Rachael Whitman, 26. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Donald Whitman, infant son of Rachael. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, 3-5-1938, 3.
–1 Unidentified female, about 40, taken from Los Angeles River in Los Angeles.
–1 Unidentified man, ~50, Oxnard St. and Whitsett Ave.
–11 North Hollywood.
–1 Furutani Fujihara, 12. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Meyo Fujihara, 8. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Santano Fujihara, 45. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Mrs. Santano Fujihara, 40. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Shiltern (or Shelton) Fujihara, 10. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p3.
–1 Jason Welborn, 2½. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–5 Universal City, Lankershim Boulevard bridge collapse.
— 2 San Fernando Valley. Unidentified men.
— 3 Sheriff’s Bay Camp. Unidentified male WPA workers. (~one mile below Big Tujunga).
— 1 Soledad Canyon. Caretaker of Edison power plant.
–10 Tujunga Canyon
— 1 John Kartheiser, 55. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 9 Construction camp flash flood. UP. “Mass Funerals in… Hayward Review, CA 3-7-1938, 1.
— 1 Valley Glen area, near Oxnard and Laurel Canyon Boulevards. Unidentified female, ~40.
–29 Missing AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Coldbrook. Mrs. ____Booker.
–8 Pomona. Fraiso family.
–5 San Gabriel Canyon.
–1 Wildwood. African-American, F. Love.
–6 Wildwood. Not named.

Mariposa County ( 9)
–9 Buena Vista Crest, Yosemite Nat. Park. TWA plane crash on mt., after encountering storm.

Orange County (45)
–45 NOAA. A History of Significant Weather…Southern CA. 2007, p. 9.
–45 Orange County Register, CA. The flood of ’38.” 2-27-2007.
–41 Blanchard tally of names noted below.
–23 Plus 25 missing. AP. “$52,000,000 Set…as Storm Loss.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-7-1938, 1.
— 6 Anaheim.
–1 Ernestine Hernandez, 7 AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Juanita Hernandez, 18 months AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Lydia Hernandez, 6 months AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Antonia Hurtado, 12 AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Drowned; Mrs. Lenora Swanson, 47. AP. “Revised List…” Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Unidentified boy, 7, body found behind signboard. AP. “Revised List…” Trib. 3-5-1938, p3
–23 Atwood.
–1 Mrs. Renaldo Barragan of La Jolla; listed as Orange County death.
–1 Rudolph Barragan, 19. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Theresa Barragan, 19 AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 infant Barragan (Estella, 3?) AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Rita Casas AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Tihureia Casas, 11. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Teddy Casen (Casa?), 10. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 _____Castro, boy, 4. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 _____Castro, boy, 6. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 _____Castro, girl, 2. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Mr. Frances Montano, 28 AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Francis Montano, 13. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 John Doe Riggs, Santa Ana Riv. AP. “Revised List…” 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Mary Rintana, 35. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Romando Rintana, 12. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Drowned near home, David Swanson, 47. AP. “Revised List…” Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Drowned. Jose Vargas. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Mrs. Mary Vargas, wife of Jose. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Baby Vargas, 15-days old, unnamed. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Trib., CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 John Vargas, 4. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Lydia Vargas, 8. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Rolando Vargas, 10. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Theresa Vargas, 19. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 2 Fullerton.
–1 John Zeunigo, 10 AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Unidentified person AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 2 Placentia. Unidentified people AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 4 Richfield
–1 Mrs. Rogers (Robers?) Montano. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Francis Montano, 3 AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Carmelita Montano, 9 AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Wesley Munn AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 1 Santa Ana. Charles B. Hughes, 85 AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 2 Wintersburg. Unidentified people AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 1 Locale not noted other than in Orange County. Charles E. Parks of San Juan Capistrano.
Missing
–1 Locale not noted other than in Orange County. S. L. Bathgate of San Juan Capistrano.
–1 Locale not noted. Child of Mrs. Mary Rintana. (Notes two children, but we show 1 above.)

Riverside County ( 6)
— 6 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below, not including missing.
— 3 Plus 22 missing. AP. “$52,000,000 Set…as Storm Loss.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-7-1938, 1.
— 1 Corona area. Lightning hit; Malcolm Massey, 19. AP. “Revised List…” Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p3.
— 5 Riverside.
–1 William Campbell. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Philip R. Evanston (or Evanson), LA truck driver AP. “Revised List…”
–1 John Gentry AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–2 Unidentified men. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–23 Missing AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–20 Missing, West Riverside. AP. “Revised List…Victims in Southland.” San Bernardino Sun, 3-6-1938, p2.

San Bernardino County (19)
–19 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below, not including missing.
–11 Plus 25 missing. AP. “$52,000,000 Set…as Storm Loss.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-7-1938, 1.
— 2 Barstow area.
–1 Thomas Flynn.
–1 ______Dennis, of Barstow; body found near Barstow.
— 1 Colton. Heart attack trying to get auto out of mud-covered road; W. E. Stone, 68.
— 2 Lake Arrowhead. Two unidentified men. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 2 Ontario area.
–1 Unidentified woman found. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Unidentified boy thought to be son of unidentified woman. AP. “Revised List…” 3-5-1938
— 3 Redlands
–1 Rose McDonnell (McConnell?) mother of Donald and Jimmy.
–1 Donald McDonnell, 19. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Jimmy McDonnell, 14. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 3 San Bernardino
–1 Mrs. Matilda F. Daley. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Daniel Rangel, 14, 1521 Rialto Ave., last seen swept from tree by floodwater.
–1 R. H. Wessing, 46, of San Jose, drowned at San Bernardino. AP. “Revised List…” 3-5-1938, 3
— 3 Upland
–1 Mrs. Henry Lackey (Laskey) AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Jack Lackey, 3 weeks, son of. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Melba Lackey, 6, daughter of. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 3 Victorville
–1 Joe Flynn AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Charles Smith of Hesperia. AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Unidentified man found in Mohave River. AP. “Revised List…” Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
— 8 Missing AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.

Santa Barbara County ( 1)
–1 Sisquoc River bridge washed out; auto goes in. Encarnacion Rivas, 41.

Ventura County ( 4)
–4 City or County? “At Ventura the storm death toll rose to four.”
–3 Plus one missing. AP. “$52,000,000 Set…as Storm Loss.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-7-1938, 1.
–1 Piru. Al Smith, 55 AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Santa Paula. Elisco (Eliseo?) Avala AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Ventura. William McCarthy AP. “Revised List…” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-5-1938, p.3.
–1 Missing. Bert Williamson of upland, near Sespe.

Narrative Information

NOAA: “Storm of tropical origin. 11.06” at LA. More than 30” at several mountain stations of San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains (32.2” at 8,300’ elev.). More than 22” in the Santa Ana River headwaters. Considerable snow was melted, adding to the runoff. This led to unprecedented flood control efforts, including a network of dams and canals and concrete channels. On 3.3 2.80” fell at Descanso, 2.47” at Escondido, where the storm total was 6.95”.

“210 reported dead or missing in flooding across Southern California. 45 in Orange County, of which 43 perished in Mexican-American Atwood from an 8 ft. wall of water. Hundreds injured. Santa Ana River floods, inundates nearly all of northern Orange County. Catastrophic damage to more than 1,500 residences. 400 cabins and buildings washed away in and around San Antonio Canyon. Whitewater River floods, isolates Palm Springs.” (NOAA, A History of Significant Weather Events in Southern California Organized by Weather Type, Jan 2007, p. 9)

Paulson: “Flood Mar. 1938 Coastal basins from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, and parts of Mojave Desert…Worst in 70 years. Deaths, 87; damage, $79 million.” (Paulson et al. “National Water Summary 1988-89 – Hydrologic Events and Floods…”)

Suburban Emer. Mgmt. Project: “The catastrophic 1938 Los Angeles flood event began with a Pacific Ocean storm that moved inland across the basin toward the towering San Gabriel Mountains, deluging the area with 4.40 inches of rain on February 27-28, and the early morning hours of March 1, 1938. This three-day storm, which ended at 5:45 a.m. on March 1, left in its wake a ‘slowly receding brown flood which had menaced thousands of homes and forced evacuation of only a few dwellings in low-lying areas’ of the basin. ….

“After 15 hours of clearing weather, a new oceanic storm swept into Southern California from the North Pacific at 8:45 p.m. on March 1, 1938, bringing with it southeasterly to southerly winds that reached gale force along the coast. Two days later, on March 3, 1938 at 7 p.m., the storm finally abated. Over 10 inches of rain had fallen in just five days. The saturated soils of the San Gabriels had already given way, sending massive debris flows down dozens of steep and narrow canyons that poured their contents onto the Los Angeles basin, like they had been doing for eons.

“The 1938 flood event resulted in the deaths of 115 people. It destroyed 5,601 homes and damaged 1,500 homes making them uninhabitable….One 58-year-old man named W.E. Strong ‘tried to drive his car over a mud-covered road at Colton. He overexerted himself in attempting to get the automobile out of the mud and then slumped in the driver’s dead of a heart attack.’

“In one doleful situation, a roaring wall of water accompanied by a landslide swept down upon a house in Beverly Glen, burying 26-year-old Mrs. Rachel Whitman and her 1 and ½-year-old son Donald….

Troxell (USGS): “A series of heavy rainstorms in the coastal area, extending from San Diego on the south to San Luis Obispo on the north and inland to parts of the Mojave Desert, produced extreme floods. These floods, which appear to have been the greatest within the last 70 years, caused the loss of 87 lives and damage estimated at $78,602,000.

“The storm seems to have centered in the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountain areas tributary to the Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Santa Ana, and Mojave River Basins. These mountain areas are among the highest in southern California, ranging in altitude from about 1,000 to 11,485 feet above sea level. Their average precipitation for the period February 27 to March 4 was about 22.5 Inches, and the greatest precipitation recorded was 32.20 inches at Kelly’s Kamp, in the San Gabriel Mountains between Ontario and Cucamonga Peaks, at an altitude of 8,300 feet….” [p. 1.]
(Troxell, Harold C. et al. (USGS). Floods of March 1938 in Southern California (Water-Supply Paper 844). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1942.)

On the Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA) plane crash: “Crashed into mountain in poor weather. The wreckage found on Buena Vista Crest, Yosemite Nat’l Park, June 12, 1938. The three crew and six passengers died.

“Probable Cause: It is the opinion of the Investigating Board that the probable cause of this accident was a change in wind direction and a sharp increase in velocity, unknown to the pilot, together with the pilot’s confusion as to his position with reference to the Fresno Radio Range station, which combined to bring about flight over mountainous terrain, ending in a crash at near his reported cruising altitude.” (Aviation Safety Network. Database 1938. Flight Safety Foundation.)

Newspapers

March 1: “….In the San Joaquin valley torrential rains in the High Sierra today brought many rivers and creeks rapidly to flood stage. The Fresno airport was closed at noon, under water. Bear creek threatened to inundate Merced again. Numerous small bridges were washed out…The Golden State highway was reported under six inches of water near Madera.

“The known deaths in Los Angeles were two small boys, a mother and a motorist….

“The Los Angeles river, ordinarily a dry bed, was quite a stream, coursing 20 miles an hour.

“Twelve thousand men working on flood control projects were mobilized by army engineers and rushed to aid Red Cross officials, police and firemen in evacuating flood marooned thousands.

“Flood control dams were in most cases full and overflowing. Many streets of Hollywood and Beverly Hills were fair sized rivers….” (Bakersfield Californian. “Raging Waters Peril Towns in Southland; Dam in Danger.” 3-1-1938, p. 6.)

March 2: “Los Angeles, Mar. 2. – (UP) – Los Angeles county was gripped today by the worst rain storm since 1884. City and county emergency relief agencies joined in preparations for development of a possible major disaster by nightfall…

“All traffic on the Santa Fe railroad centering on Los Angeles and in the territory bounded by Los Angeles, San Diego, Barstow and San Bernardino has been halted by flood waters, officials of the road announced late today. Conditions in the Los Angeles territory were the worst in the history of the line, they declared….” (San Mateo Times. “Million Loss In Floods in L.A.; Many Homeless.” 3-2-1938, p. 1.)

March 3: “By United Press. Anaheim, March 3 – (By radio phone to San Francisco) – The Santa Ana River broke through its levees here today and flooded the towns of Atwood, Fullerton, Buena Park, Anaheim and Garden Grove.

“At least four persons were known dead in Atwood, where the raging waters washed away many buildings. There was one person dead and four missing at Fullerton. The death toll throughout Orange County was expected to be high.

“Because all telephone and telegraph lines were down in this area, this dispatch was sent from the amateur radio station W6DUF owned by G. R. Southerlen, RFS 1, La Habra. It was relayed to D. Reginal Tibbetts’ short wave station at Berkeley, Cal., for delivery to the United Press in San Francisco.

“Virtually all of Central and Western Orange County was under water. The business district of Anaheim was under four feet of surging flood-waters. Many business houses were flooded. Torrents poured into homes in the lower sections of town. In low areas of the country, including many large citrus orchards, waster was standing six feet deep or more.

“When the Santa Ana River broke through its dikes, water rushed down highways and orange groves so hard that many houses were moved from their foundations. The grounds of the Orange County Hospital were so badly flooded that it was impossible to get from one building to another.

“The total loss of life and property could not be estimated, but it was apparent it would run into millions of dollars….

“Hundreds of families fled their homes and sought relief at higher ground. Many were trapped in their homes while they were sleeping. Some were forced to climb on their rooftops or into trees.

“Terrific currents of the flood channels made it almost impossible to move abut. Many cars were stalled in streets and along highways.” (Berkeley Daily Gazette, CA. “Looting Adds to Flood Horror: 45 Die, Thousands Homeless.” 3-3-1938, p. 1.)

March 5: “Fresno, March 5. – (U.P.) – The San Joaquin River, rising at the rate of an inch an hour, broke through its banks over a wide area tonight, endangering at least 1500 persons and adding more homeless families to the list of 3500 migratory workers whose homes have been destroyed by floodwaters.

“While half of Fresno itself remained under water which burst through the banks of the Herndon Canal, towns throughout Fresno and adjoining counties were threatened with disastrous inundation.

“At least 1500 persons at Dos Palos, in Merced County, were in danger, authorities reported. Firebaugh, in Western Fresno County, where 1000 farm migrants – now flood refugees – have gathered, was in the path of the raging waters.

“As the floodwaters surged across the broad stretches of the San Joaquin Valley floor, thousands of cotton pickers and other migratory workers were driven from their temporary shelters.

“San Joaquin Valley relief agencies mobilized tonight to provide food and shelter for an estimated 3500 homeless migratory agricultural workers. Hundreds of tiny homes and camps were swept away by floods. At least 1000 persons are dependent on relief agencies for food, officials said. Most of the migrants are from the Middle West.

“Fresno received the brunt of the flood. Hundreds of homes in the northern part of the city are surrounded by flood waters ranging in depth from one to nine feet. Guards are patrolling the canal banks, ready to sound an alarm if the flood again endangers the business district. It was the worst flood in Fresno’s history.

“Thirty square miles of farm lands are under water in Fresno, Kings, Merced, Madero, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties….Suffering is acute among migratory workers in Madera County, where floods washed away scores of temporary shelters.

“American Legionnaires guarded the Figarden residential district as a precaution against looting. Many large homes there suffered heavy water damage, with the level as high as the window sills in some cases.

“Only a Santa Fe Railroad embankment paralleling the canal prevented the floodwaters from inundating Fresno’s business area. Officials fear the water might spill over the embankment if emergency crews are unable to stem the overflow from the crumbling dike.

“Mayor Frank Homan, announcing a ‘state of emergency,’ urged all residents to ‘stay at home.’ Early today when the canal first broke through its bank, residents were warned in radio broadcasts to be prepared to evacuate.
Streets Become Torrents

“Three hundred persons, fleeing their homes in the Figarden section, were picked up by rescue boats. Streets in outlying districts became virtual torrents….

“The Kings River has broken its banks in the Hardwick district in west Fresno County and flooded several hundred acres of farm land.” (United Press. “Many Families Marooned on Home Roofs.” Oakland Tribune, CA, 3-6-1938, p. 1.)

March 7: “Los Angeles, (U.P.) – Southern California started holding mass funerals Monday for the scores who died in last week’s floods. The mourners passed long streets half buried in mud and debris, where groups of grim and weary men still searched for the missing, five days after the disaster.

“There were 139 persons listed as dead in the 30,000 square-mile area, and it was estimated 200 or more had died.

“To keep out sight-seers and looters during the rehabilitation work, National guardsmen were on patrol at Anaheim; sheriff’s deputies blocked roads in San Bernardino county; mounted poses guarded the banks of Lytle creek and Santa Ana river in several counties.

“Nine men were added to the death toll Sunday night when a haggard party of two women and four men emerged from Tujunga canyon, reporting that nine of their companions had been drowned when a torrent swept down on a construction camp 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles. For five days the surviving six had been without food. They had lived on water and coffee.” (United Press. “Mass Funerals in Flood Zone.” Hayward Daily Review, CA, 3-7-1938, p. 1.)

Sources

American National Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938 (Official Report of Relief Operations). Washington, DC: ARC, Oct. 1939.

Associated Press. “$52,000,000 Set by Merriam as Storm Loss.” Bakersfield Californian, 3-7-1938, 1. Accessed 4-30-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-mar-07-1938-p-1/

Associated Press. “Casualty List by Counties in Southland..” San Bernardino Sun, 3-5-1938, p. 1. Accessed 4-30-2020 at: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19380305.1.1&e=——-en–20–1–txt-txIN——–1

Associated Press. “Revised List of Flood Victims in Southland.” San Bernardino Sun, CA, 3-6-1938, p. 2. Accessed 4-30-2020 at: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19380306.1.14&e=——-en–20–1–txt-txIN——–1

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