9– 31-32

lornajarrettblanchard January 21, 1959

–31-32 Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.
–2-3 Indiana
— 9 New York
— 17 Ohio
— 3 Pennsylvania
— 27 Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. I, No. 1, January 1959, pp. 2, 4, 5.
— 2 Indiana
— 9 New York
–13 Ohio
— 3 Pennsylvania
–23 AP. “Flood Deaths Mount; Fires Add to Hazards.” Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. 1-25-1959, 1.
— 3 Indiana
— 5 New York
–14 Ohio
— 1 Pennsylvania
–22 AP. “Disaster Damage Is Great as Eastern Half of U.S. Begins Digging-Our Job.” 1-24-1959, p. 12.

Indiana (2-3)
–3 AP. “Flood Deaths Mount; Fires Add to Hazards.” Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. 1-25-1959, 1.
–2 Jan 20-21 Southern IN rain. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. I, No. 1, January 1959, p. 2.
–1 Deputy area, Jefferson Co. Drowning; truck driver stepped from cab into flood water.
–1 Warrick County (western). Drowning. Auto “slipped” from road into flooded ditch.

New York ( 9)
–9 Jan 20-23. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. I, No. 1, January 1959, p. 4.
–5 AP. “Flood Deaths Mount; Fires Add to Hazards.” Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. 1-25-1959, p1.

Ohio ( 17)
–20 UPI. “DiSalle Says Ohio’s Flood Death Toll May Reach 20…” 1-26-1959, p. 1.
–17 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts: 13 drowned, 1 exposure, 1 suicide, 1 electrocution.
–16 Schmidlin and Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland…Weather Events in Ohio. 1996, p210.
–16 State of Ohio EMA. State of OH Hazard Mitigation Plan, Sec. 2, Hazard Identification.
–16 UPI, Columbus. “Floods Take 16 Lives…” Coshocton Tribune, OH, 1-23-1959, p. 1.
–14 AP. “Ohio Flood Loss Soars Past $100 Million…” Middletown Journal, OH, 1-25-1959, 1.
–13 Drownings –1 Exposure
–14 Hamilton Daily News Journal, OH. “Flood At-A-Glance,” 1-24-1959, p. 1.
–13 AP. “13 Persons Drowned in Ohio Floods.” Mansfield News-Journal, 1-23-1959, p. 1.
–13 Weather Bureau, U.S. Dept. Storm Data, Vol. I, No. 1, January 1959, p. 5.
Breakout of Ohio Fatalities by locality
–1 Chillicothe. Exposure; Mrs. Marjorie Hawk, elderly, “trapped on the second floor of her home.”
–1 Cleveland. Drowning; John Walters
–1 Columbus. Suicide. Invalid, Mrs. Betty Montgomery, 50, shot herself as flood waters rose in home.
–1 Lebanon. Drowning; Johnny Tucker, 17, slipped into floodwater; putting family items in truck.
–1 Loveland area. Drowning; Earl W. Felock, 43. AP. “13…Drowned in Ohio Floods.” 1-23-1959, p.1.
–1 Newark, Licking County. Drowning; unidentified man.
–1 Ross, Miami River. Drowned; boat taking family to safety overturns; Diana Meeks, 6.
–1 Salem. Drowning; Pfc. Gary T. Balsey, 20. AP. “13…Drowned in Ohio Floods.” 1-23-1959, p.1.
–1 Salem. Electrocution. Male, 39, connecting electric pump in his flooded basement.
–1 South Lebanon, Warren County. Drowning; 17-year-old youth.
–1 Springfield. Drowning or exposure? Frozen body of man found 1½ mile from home.
–1 Toledo. Drowning, Henry Munck, 63. AP. “13 Persons Drowned in Ohio Floods.” 1-23-1959, p.1.
–1 Walhonding area, Jan 25. Drowning; man, 62, inspecting flood damage, slips from muddy bridge.
–5 Willoughby Hills, Chagrin River, Lake County.
–1 Douglas Peterson, 27. AP. “13 Persons Drowned in Ohio Floods.” 1-23-1959, p1.
–1 Mrs. Virginia Peterson, 28. “
–1 Mrs. Dorothy Peterson, 55. “
–1 Ray Kifer, 30. “
–1 Hamilton Schweitzer, 31. “

Pennsylvania ( 3)
–3 Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. I, No. 1, January 1959, p. 5.

Narrative Information

Indiana

Weather Bureau Storm Data on Indiana: “Indiana, southern…20-22 [Jan]…2 [killed]…Rain

“Three to six inches of rain on frozen soil flooded lowlands and places seldom exposed to high water. Flash flooding of small streams was general. At least 849 homes were flooded. A truck driver drowned when he stepped from the cab of his truck into swirling flood water north of Deputy. In western Warrick County a man was drowned when his auto slipped from a flooded highway into a flooded ditch. The American Red Cross reported by counties the number of families fleeing their homes: Bartholomew 200, Clark 100, Crawford 64, Dearborn 10, Franklin 200, Harrison 37, Jefferson 150, Jennings 7, Ohio 8, Orange 10, and Washington 63. Financial assistance to families totaled over $62,000. At Madison the rapid rise of Crooked Creek flooded a 20 block area. Automobiles were carried several blocks. A meat packing plant had a loss of $100,000. Two other industries were flooded. At Corydon Big and Little Indiana Creeks flooded the business district causing damages of $300,000. In Crawford County damages were estimated at $600,000, Floyd County at $100,000, Jefferson County at $300,000 and in Franklin County $1,000,000. Erosion of top soil was severe as one or two inches of surface soil was thawed and washed away by the deluge. Innumerable basements were flooded by flow of surface water.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. I, No. 1, January 1959, p. 2.)

New York

Weather Bureau Storm Data on New York: “Statewide…20-23 [Jan]…9 [killed]…Heavy rain, wind, rapid thawing accompanied by heavy runoff of snow melt and widespread flooding

“A strong northward flow of warm, moist air over a period of several days in connection with the passage of a very active storm system produces what is commonly called a ‘January thaw’. Heavy rains and unusually heavy runoff from rapidly melting snow caused wide-spread lowland flooding in many populated areas. Flooding streams, broken ice covers, ice jams and gale to hurricane force winds added to the havoc caused during the storm period.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. I, No. 1, January 1959, p. 4.)

Ohio

State of Ohio Emergency Management Agency: “Rainfall in January 1959 ranging from 3-6 inches on snow-covered, frozen ground caused the most severe flooding since 1913. Streams reached flood stage from January 21-24 killing 16 people, forcing 49,000 people from their homes, and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.” (State of OH Hazard Mitigation Plan, Sec. 2.)

Weather Bureau: “OHIO, Entire State…[Jan] 21…Mostly during night and forenoon…13 [killed]…Heavy rain and resultant flood.

“A light rain and snow situation on Jan. 19 and 20 developed by late on the 20th into heavy rains which spread in a 50-mile band from southwestern counties northeastward across the state to near Youngstown. Within this band storm totals ranged from 4 to 6 inches, the major portion of which fell within a 12-hour period on the 21st. Heavy thunde4rstorm activity contributed to the intensity of rainfall. Because the soil was frozen, except for a thin surface layer, the percentage of runoff was unusually high; and streams rapidly approached and exceeded flood stages.

“Substantial portions of several towns were inundated, especially in central counties, and relatively few communities escaped sustaining material damage. Many rural and urban residents alike were evacuated from their homes by boat or helicopter. Numerous highways were blocked for a 2-4 day period by high water. Of total property damage, estimated at 100 million dollars, 28% was to public (state, county and local) and 72% to private property (as reported by Civil Defense). Much low-lying crop land was inundated with serious loss, both to fall-sown grains and topsoil erosion. Subsequent freezing coated large northwestern areas with ice, which threatens to damage crops still further.

“Outside this band of heaviest rain (particularly in the northwest, storm totals ranged downward to less than 2 inches, and less serious flooding resulted. However, in northern counties flood conditions were aggravated by snow melt and ice jams.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. I, No. 1, Jan 1959, p. 5.)

Newspapers (Ohio)

Jan 21: “United Press International. Flooding rainfall took its toll of Ohio’s highways and homes today. State highway officials reported at least 35 sections of U.S. and state highways closed by high water.

“In Columbus the fire department said it was trying to answer more than 200 requests to turn off heating systems in homes where rain has flooded the basements. Summit County authorities prepared to evacuate six families in the lowland village of Peninsula, near Akron….

“Weathermen reported more than an inch and a half of rainfall during the past 24 hours at Akron, Toledo, and Columbus; more than an inch and three-quarters at Cincinnati, and two inches at Dayton….No end to the bad weather was in sight. The weatherman predicted more showers and thunder-showers today, changing to snow and possibly freezing rain early Thursday.

“The state Highway Patrol reported that more than 150 trucks stalled or jackknifed between midnight and 2 a.m. today on the 30 mile stretch of U.S. 30 between Lima and Kenton as a result of the ice and rain….

“The Highway Department warned motorists the following sections of state and federal highways were closed because of high water:
U.S. 23 between Upper Sandusky and Fostoria.
U.S. 25 between Monroe and Ohio 22.
U.S. 36 south of Mount Liberty in Knox County.
U.S. 50A in Athens County.
Ohio 3 in Knox County.
Ohio 26 in Washington County.
Ohio 124 and 680 in Meigs County.
Ohio 145, 146, 215, 513, and 564 in Noble County.
Ohio 146, 313 and 285 in Guernsey County.
Ohio 204 and 668 in Perry County.
Ohio 218, 325, 564, and 775 in Gallia County.
Ohio 247 and 348 in Adams County.
Ohio 260 at its junction with 145,.
Ohio 655 in Belmont County.
Ohio 680 in Athens County.
Ohio 127 in Preble County.
Ohio 42 in Warren County.
Ohio 747 and 127 in Hamilton County.
U.S. 25 in Butler County.
Ohio 380 in Greene County, and
U.S. 25 in Montgomery County.

“Highway officials said the east portion of the Ohio Turnpike allowed normal traffic, but drivers on the west part were urged to move with extra care.

“In danger of being closed were U.S. 33 between Columbus and Marysville and U.S. 36 east of Delaware.

“A highway spokesman reported that bridge 257 on U.S. 42 over Mill Creek in Delaware County was closed by an ‘ice jam’ and overflowing water….

“…the mercury is slated for a plunge into the 20’s tonight that may freeze over the already puddled and slushy Ohio roads

“Further reports from Lima said about 900 workers at the Ford Motor Plant…were lined up bumper to bumper on icy Allen County roads as they tried driving to work early today.” (UPI. “Flooding Rains Take Toll on Ohio Roads, Homes.” Reflector-Herald, Norwalk, OH. 1-21-1959, p. 1.)

Jan 22: “Columbus UPI – Five persons were missing and presumed drowned today boosting to eight the tentative death toll in Ohio’s worst flood in two decades which left thousand homeless and caused millions in damage. The five were tossed into the raging Chagrin River in northern Lake County Wednesday night [21st] during a rescue operation. They were Douglas Peterson, his wife, Virginia; his mother, Mrs. Dorothy Peterson; Hamilton Schivultzer, and Raymond Kifer, all of Willoughby Hills. Schivultzer and Kifer, members of the Willoughby Hills Civil Defense unit, along with Coast Guardsmen Carl Hardee had evacuated the Peterson family from its home when the boat overturned. The six were hurled into the cold waters when the boat from the Fairport Harbor Coast Guard station capsized. Reports said the members of the Peterson family clung to a tree, but were swept away by the turbulent waters. The other two were swept downstream immediately. Hardee was rescued by another boat.

“Other flood victims were a 6-year-old girl at Ross, a 17-year-old youth at South Lebanon, and a 39-year-old Salem man who apparently was electrocuted in his flooded basement when he tried to connect an electric pump.

“An estimated 10,000 persons were left homeless by the flood. The worst of the flash floods apparently were over, although some of the rivers are continuing to rise and spill over into the lowlands.

“The homeless were sheltered in schools, lodge halls, churches and private homes. Hundreds of schools and factories were closed.

“The Highway Patrol said there were more roads closed by the high waters than they could count. The floods, however, were receding and traffic was beginning to move again, although the cold weather which ended the rain left some of the roads icy.

“Mount Vernon, a central Ohio community of 16,000 persons, was hit hardest. At least 3,300 persons were evacuated there when the Korosing [Kokosing?] River cracked a dike built after the disastrous 1913 Ohio floods.

“At least 1,500 persons were evacuated in Dayton, 1,000 in Columbus, and 800 in Cleveland. A flotilla of motor boats was used to rescue 100 families in Hamilton. Dozens of other communities, including Lima, Youngstown, Akron, Vermilion, Wapakoneta, Kenton, and Bucyrus reported families moved from danger areas.

“The flashfloods, which dumped four to five inches of rain within 24 hours were worse than the floods which followed several days of rain because they turned small streams into rivers, blocked streets, flooded basements, and overloaded city sewer systems.

“Today [22nd] much of the water had gone from the sewers and small streams into the rivers, ending one threat but creating possible new ones. The Ohio River, however, was not expected to have a major flood.

“There have been worse floods on individual Ohio streams but for intensity and widespread damage, Wednesday’s flood was considered one of he worst since 1913 when several rivers roared out of their banks to kill hundreds of persons.

“There was no money estimate of the damage but every community counted flooded basements, wrecked sewers and damaged streets and bridges. One county road engineer said ‘every road in the county is damaged.’

“Snow and freezing temperatures added to the misery today by making roads slippery and impassable in many areas.

“Gov. Michael V. DiSalle made a dramatic visit during the night to Mount Vernon to promise the stricken city that the state would attempt to obtain federal disaster aid for the community. The new governor, dressed in boots and an Army jacket, waited an hour trying to get into the city. Finally he boarded a big Army truck and crossed a flood-weakened bridge condemned as unsafe, to enter the beleaguered city.

“National Guard troops, Red Cross units, Civil Defense workers, the Salvation Army, and thousands of volunteers combined to fight the floods. Some piled sandbags to hold back the waters while others used motor boats for rescue work.

“Tales of heroism were reported in many places. At Ross, a small community of employees of the Fernald Atomic Energy installation south of Middletown, Webb Epperson, 16, plunged into the flooded Miami River in a futile attempt to rescue Dianna Meeks, 6. She fell into the river when a boat taking her father, a twin brother, and two sisters to safety, overturned. ‘All I saw was the feet of a little girl sticking out of the water but I couldn’t reach her,’ Epperson said.

“Early today, an Army amphibious craft rescued a group of priests and nuns from the second floor of the St. Charles Academy in Columbus. In Cleveland, Coast Guardsmen battered their craft through huge chunks of ice to rescue 50 persons stranded on an island.

“The water flooded the house for monkeys at the Cleveland Zoo and shorted out the electrical heating equipment. Scores of monkeys were drowned or electrocuted. It was believed that 167 reptiles in the snake house drowned.

“Dynamite was used in some places to break ice jams as ice caps on rivers cracked, sending huge chunks of ice crashing against bridges and dams.

“Emergencies were declared in Columbus, Mount Vernon, Kenton, St. Marys, Hamilton and other cities.

“National Guardsmen helped fight the floods in Mount Vernon and Kenton. Some guardsmen, armed with bayonets, patrolled Mount Vernon streets to protect property, while others in boats scoured the flooded areas. Mount Vernon Mayor Phillip Mauger said the guardsmen ‘never had a chance’ in their fight to sandbag the Kokosing River dike because the waters rose rapidly….”

“Columbus UPI – The grim toll of flash floods which hit Ohio yesterday rose to 14 today with police reporting a number of persons missing.” (UPI. “Ohio Flood Death Toll Rises to 14.” Delphos Daily Herald, 1-22-1959, p. 1.)

Pennsylvania

Weather Bureau: “Pennsylvania, Statewide…[Jan] 20-22…3 [killed]…Rain, wind and snow.

“Moderate to heavy rain falling on frozen ground and aided by snowmelt and ice jams produced severe flooding in western counties and moderate to severe local flooding in central sections. High winds blew down signboards and trees and overturned a house trailer. Damage by rain and flooding about 95% of total, by wind 5%.” (Weather Bureau, Storm Data, Vol. I, No. 1, Jan 1959, p. 5.)

Sources

Associated Press. “13 Persons Drowned in Ohio Floods.” Mansfield News-Journal, 1-23-1959, p. 1. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/mansfield-news-journal-jan-23-1959-p-1/

Associated Press. “Disaster Damage Is Great as Eastern Half of U.S. Begins Digging-Our Job.” Wellsville Daily Reporter, PA. 1-24-1959, p. 12. Accessed 12-17-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wellsville-daily-reporter-jan-24-1959-p-1/

Associated Press. “Flood Deaths Mount; Fires Add to Hazards. Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. 1-25-1959, 1. Accessed 12-17-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-post-standard-jan-25-1959-p-54/

Associated Press, Columbus. “Flood Loss May Hit $100 Million.” Hamilton Daily News Journal, OH, 1-24-1959, p. 1. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hamilton-daily-news-journal-jan-24-1959-p-1/

Associated Press, Columbus. “Ohio Flood Loss Soars Past $100 Million Mark.” Middletown Journal, OH, 1-25-1959, p. 1. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/middletown-journal-jan-25-1959-p-1/

Daily Reporter, Dover, OH. “10 Are Dead in Ohio; Damage in Millions.” 1-22-1959, p. 8. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dover-daily-reporter-jan-22-1959-p-8/

Hamilton Daily News Journal, OH. “Flood At-A-Glance,” 1-24-1959, p. 1. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hamilton-daily-news-journal-jan-24-1959-p-1/

Portsmouth Times, OH. “Flood Waters Cut Big Swath Through Ohio.” 1-23-1959, p. 2. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portsmouth-times-jan-23-1959-p-3/

Schmidlin, Thomas W. and Jeanne Appelhans Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland: A Chronicle of Outstanding Weather Events in Ohio. Kent State University Press, 1996, 362 pages. Partially digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=QANPLARGXFMC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

State of Ohio Emergency Management Agency. State of Ohio Hazard Mitigation Plan. Section 2, Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment, p. 74. Accessed 10/3/2009 at: http://ema.ohio.gov/Documents/OhioMitigationPlan/SOHMP_Sec_2_2.pdf

United Press International. “Flooding Rains Take Toll on Ohio Roads, Homes.” Reflector-Herald, Norwalk, OH. 1-21-1959, p. 1. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/norwalk-reflector-herald-jan-21-1959-p-1/

United Press International, Columbus. “DiSalle [OH Governor] Says Ohio’s Flood Death Toll May Reach 20; Thousand are Homeless.” The Coshocton Tribune, OH, 1-26-1959, p. 1. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/coshocton-tribune-jan-26-1959-p-1/

United Press International, Columbus. “Floods Take 16 Lives, Force 16,000 From Homes in State.” Coshocton Tribune, OH, 1-23-1959, p. 1. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/coshocton-tribune-jan-23-1959-p-1/

United Press International. “Ohio Flood Death Toll Rises to 14.” Delphos Daily Herald, 1-22-1959, p. 1. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/delphos-daily-herald-jan-22-1959-p-1/

Weather Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. Storm Data, Vol. I, No. 1, January 1959, Asheville, NC. Accessed 2-27-2020 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-C50681DD-E345-4949-802F-B8BB5BBC4A16.pdf