1966 — Apr 24, 28-30, May 4, TX flash flooding esp. northeast, esp. north Dallas, TX — >25

— 25 Blanchard tally of drowning deaths from sources noted below.
— >25 USGS (J.L. Rostvedt). Summary of Floods in the United States During 1966. 1971, p.26.
–21 Drownings.
–7 Dallas, April 28.
–1 Female in rental car swept off Northwest Hwy. into Bachman Creek.
–13 Dallas area, approximately Apr 28-Apr 30. Drownings.
Breakout of fatalities by locality where we have been able to locate.
— 7 Dallas area, Apr 28. USGS/Rostvedt. Summary of Floods in the United States During 1966. 1971, p.26.
— 2 Drownings, Apr 28. Mr. Robert Buck and wife Adrienne Buck.
— 1 Drowning, Apr 28. Dr. Alfred W. Harris, 50.
— 1 Drowning, Apr 28; W. L. Perryman, president of General American Oil Co.
— 1 Drowning, Apr 28; Judy Ritchie, 22.
— 1 Drowning, Apr 28; unidentified mane, about 20.
–>1 Garland, Dallas Co., Apr 28. Drowning; female; car swept away by flood water.
–1 Dallas, Turtle Creek, Apr 29. Drowning in submerged car; Michael D. Burkes, 6.
–5 Dallas, Apr 30. Car goes around police barricade onto flooded bridge into Trinity River.
–1 Henderson area, US 259, Rusk County, Apr 24. Drowning; car swept by water off road.
–1 Henderson area, May 4. Drowning; car “plunged through a washed-out bridge…” R. Brown.
–1 Kilgore area, Gregg County, Apr 24. Drowning; body found in small creek flood waters.
–4 Longview area, Gregg Co., US 281, Apr 24. Drownings; two cars swept off road by floodwater.
–1 Longview area 7 miles SW, US 281, Apr 24. Drowning; car goes into water-filled ditch.
–1 San Antonio. Drowning. No detail other than “Another drowning victim was found…”
–4 Tyler area, Smith County, Apr 24. Drownings; car swept off Farm Road 757.

Narrative Information

USGS: “Floods of April-May, in Northeastern Texas

“In the 8-day period, April 22-29, 20-26 inches of rain fell in parts of the Sabine River basin in northeastern Texas. Most of the rain fell within a 72-hour period during April 22-25. The heaviest rains were centered over the Gilmer-Gladewater-Harleton area. At Gladewater, 22.74 inches fell in 60 hours, an amount much greater than the 100-year rainfall in this area. High rates of runoff occurred in the area of heavy rainfall in northeastern Texas…from the headwater area of the Sulphur River southward to the Trinity River basin…

“The ESSA [US Environmental Science Services Administration] Weather Bureau estimated $2 million losses to crops and $10 million to other property losses. Floods destroyed bridges and disrupted rail and highway traffic. Damage to roads in Gregg County was estimated at $2 million.

“The 40-year old dam forming Lake Devernia failed, as did several other smaller dams in Gregg County. The Texas and Pacific Railway tracks at Hawkins Creek west of Longview were undermined, and two diesel engines and 19 freight cars plunged into the creek. At least 25 persons lost their lives in the flood, of which 21 were due to drowning.

“The floods in northern Dallas…were the worst in the history of the city….

“A rainstorm in the northern part of Dallas…during the early hours of April 28 produced as much as 6.7 inches of rainfall within a 6-hour period; 4.9 inches fell within 1 hour. The intensity of the rainfall exceeded a 100-year return period by a considerable amount for durations of 30 minutes to 2 hours, according to the U.S. Weather Bureau (1955). Almost 8 inches of rain had fallen during the preceding 2 weeks. The result was a well-saturated basis in which all storage areas were full. In addition, most of the area is urbanized. This combination of intense rainfall and other hydrologic conditions favorable to high runoff resulted in floodflows at some points exceeding the highest floodflows ever recorded on small streams in Dallas. A peak runoff rate of 3,160 cgs per sq mi occurred on a 1.5-square-mile area. This is the second highest peak rate of runoff per square mile in Texas recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey.

“Flood damage in Dallas was estimated at $2.5 million. Bridges were washed away; more than 270 homes and at least 40 businesses were severely damaged; lawns, gardens, and cemeteries were inundated; and seven lives were lost….” (pp. D25-D29)

Sources

Associated Press. “7 Perish in Dallas Flood; 2 More Missing; Homes Inundated.” Wichita Falls Times, TX. 4-28-1966, p. 1. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wichita-falls-times-apr-28-1966-p-1/

Associated Press. “Death Toll 7 in Dallas Flash Flood.” Abilene Reporter-News, TX. 4-29-1966, p. 1. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/abilene-reporter-news-apr-29-1966-p-1/

Associated Press. “Flooding Takes Toll of 10 To Boost Violent Deaths.” The Paris News, TX, 4-25-1966, p. 1. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/paris-news-apr-25-1966-p-1/

Associated Press. “Floods Mount, Death Toll 12.” Amarillo Daily News, TX. 4-30-1966, p. 1. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/amarillo-daily-news-apr-30-1966-p-1/

Associated Press. “Rains Drench Valley.” Corsicana Daily Sun, TX, 5-4-1966, p. 1. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/corsicana-daily-sun-may-04-1966-p-1/

Associated Press. “Rampaging Floods Claim 10 Lives in Texas Over Weekend.” Alice Daily Echo, TX, 4-25-1966, p. 1. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/alice-daily-echo-apr-25-1966-p-5/

Burnett, Jonathan. Flash Floods in Texas. College Station: Texas A&M Univ. Press, 2008.

Cuero Record, TX. “Weather…” 5-5-1966, p. 6, continued from p. 1. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cuero-record-may-05-1966-p-6/

Ennis Daily News, TX. “Storm-Related Wk.-End Deaths At Total of 10.” 5-2-1966, p. 1. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ennis-daily-news-may-02-1966-p-2/

Richardson Daily News, TX. “Woman Drowns During Storm.” 4-29-1966, p. 1. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/richardson-daily-news-apr-29-1966-p-1/

United Press International. “25 Perish In Texas Storms.” Amarillo Globe-Times, TX, 4-25-1966, pp. 1-2. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/amarillo-globe-times-apr-25-1966-p-2/

United Press International. “Dallas Storm Leaves 19 Dead.” El Paso Herald-Post, 5-2-1966, p. B-3. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/el-paso-herald-post-may-02-1966-p-38/

United Press International. “Storms Add To Death Toll In Texas Violent Deaths.” The Childress Index, TX, 5-2-1966, p. 1. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/childress-index-may-02-1966-p-1/

United Press International. “Weather-Blamed Deaths Total 26.” Brownsville Herald, TX. 4-25-1966, pp. 1 and 6. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brownsville-herald-apr-25-1966-p-1/

United States Geological Survey (Willard B. Mills and Elmer E. Schroeder). Floods of April 28, 1966 In the Northern Part of Dallas, Texas (Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1870-B). Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1969. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/1870b/report.pdf

United States Geological Survey (J. L. Rostvedt, et al.). Summary of Floods in the United States During 1966. 1971 (Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1870-D). “Floods of April-May, in Northeastern Texas,” pp. D25-D29). Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1971. Accessed 9-19-2021 at: https://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/1870d/report.pdf