1937 — Jan 11-Feb 15,[1] Flooding, OH/MS river valleys, esp. AR/KY/MO/OH/TN –408-467
— 1,100 Epic Disasters. The Deadliest US Floods (webpage).[2]
— 500 LeMay. The Kentucky National Guard’s Response to the Great Flood of 1937, p. 3.[3]
–408-467 Blanchard[4] estimated range.[5]
Other Estimates:
— 467 AP. “Arkansas Woman Refugee Dies of Pneumonia Friday,” AR, 2-13-1937, p. 4.
— 466 Valley Morning Star, Harlingen TX. “Floods Halt War Factory,” May 27, 1943, p. 1.
— 465 AP. “Disease Takes Heavy Toll In Flood Area.” Joplin Globe, MO, 2-13-1937, p. 2.
— 435 Mann. “75 years later: Remembering the 1937 flood.” News and Tribune, 1-30-2012.
— 408 Blanchard high-end tally of State and local flood-related fatalities below.
— >400 AP. “Much Water Still Behind Flood Crest.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, 2-6-1937, p1.[6]
— 400 AP. “Ohio River Again Threatens Cairo. Break Floods 20,000 Acres…” 2-1-1937, p. 1.
— >400 Burns. “Culver Military Academy Helps in 1937 Flood Rescue.”
— <400 Casto. The Great Ohio River Flood of 1937. 2009.
— <400 Harrison Daily Times, AR. “Levees Holding on Mississippi as Crest Hits.” 2-5-1937, 1.
— 391 Camden News, Camden, AR. “Flood In Brief,” 2-5-1937, p. 2, col. 4.
— 385 Cincinnati Enquirer. “Infamous Floods – Flood of ’97.” No web date.
— 385 Davies, Richard. “The Ohio River Flood 1937.” FloodList.com. 4-11-2013.
— 385 Wikipedia. “Ohio River Flood of 1937.”
— 378 Altoona Mirror, PA. “100,000 Men Fighting Mississippi Flood.” 2-1-1937, p. 1.
— 376 AP. “Flood Facts At Glance.” Camden News, Camden, AR, 2-3-1937, p. 6. col. 1.
— 352 Blanchard low-end of tally of State and local flood-related fatalities below.
— ~350 Brookfield Argus, MO. “Mississippi River’s Great Levee System…” 1-30-1937, p. 1.
— 333 AP. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport, PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
— 328 UP. “Cairo, Illinois, Is Surrounded Today By Raging Waters.” Brookfield Argus, MO, 1-30-1937, p. 1.
— >325 AP. “Strengthen Levees Below Cairo…” Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, p1.
— 306 UP. “Armies Rush Work in Flood Area; 306 Dead.” Dubois Courier, PA, 1-30-1937, p1.
— 293 AP. “Flood Deaths Rise to 293…” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-28-1937, p. 1.
— 261 AP. “Status of Flood Damage in Brief.” Joplin Globe, MO, 1-28-1937, p. 1.
— 246 ARC. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods–1938. 1939, p. 9.
— 139 Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, p. 81.
— 137 AP. “Known Dead From Floods at 137 Today.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, Jan 27.[7]
— 137 Burt and Stroud. Extreme Weather: A Guide & Record Book. 2004, 128.
— >130 AP. “Mounting Death Toll in Floods Passes 130.” Titusville Herald, PA, 1-27-1937, 1.[8]
— 125 Morning Herald, Uniontown PA. “125 Dead, 550,000 Homeless…Flood…” 1-27-1937.
— 111 AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, Jan 26.[9]
— 109 UP. “Flood Dead At 109 Despite Rescue Army.” Dubois Courier, PA, 1-27-1937, p. 1.
— >100 Harrison Daily Times, AR. “Mississippi May Rise 10 Feet Over…” 1-26-1937, p. 1.
— >84 AP. “Flood Summary.” Camden Times, Camden, AR, 1-28-1937, p. 6.[10]
— 78 Dubois Courier, PA. “78 Dead, Martial Law Rules, Worst Flood In History.” 1-26-1937, 1.
— 68 AP. “68 Known Dead in Ten States; Loss Unknown.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, Jan 25.[11]
— 44 AP. “Acute Suffering in Ohio Valley Area.” Camden News, AR, 1-25-1937, p. 1.[12]
— 26 AP. “More Than Score Are Dead…” Helena Independent, 1-24-1937, p. 1.
— 16 AP. “Sixteen Dead From Floods in Midwest.” Somerset American, PA, 1-23-1937, p. 1.
— >11 AP. “Ohio Valley Threatened with Flood.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-22-1937, p. 1.[13]
— 8 UP. “8 Known Dead in Ohio Flood; Bad in Other States.” Chester Times, PA, 1-20-1937, 1.
— 5 United Press. “Rain Brings New Terror of Floods.” Altoona Mirror, PA, 1-18-1937, p. 1.
–3 OH –2 IN
— >4 Harrison Daily Times, AR. “Flood Danger is Made Worse by Heavy Rains.” 1-19-1937, p. 1.
Summary of Flood-Related Fatalities by State
Alabama ( 10)
Arkansas ( 54 – 56)
Illinois ( 16)
Indiana ( 12)
Kentucky (158-198)
Mississippi ( 6)
Missouri ( 47 – 51)
Ohio ( 15 – 20)
Pennsylvania ( 3)
Tennessee ( 18 – 23)
West Virginia ( 13)
Total: 352-408
Breakout of Flood-Related Fatalities by State
Alabama ( 10)
–10 Bayview Camp (AR refugees, by Feb 15).[14]
— 6 Bayview Camp (AR refugees, by Feb 12).[15]
— 2 State. AP. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette…, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
Arkansas (54-56) Includes illnesses linked to flooding and freezing conditions.
–56 Blanchard high-end of fatalities by locality noted below
–54 Blanchard low-end of fatalities by locality noted below.
–37 Nat. Weather Svc. Flooding in Arkansas. “The Ohio-Mississippi Valley Flood of 1937.”
–37 Spurgeon. Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. “Flood of 1937.”[16]
–35 Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “U.S. Flood.” 2-1-1937. p. 3.
–29 United Press. “Armies Rush Work in Flood…” Dubois Courier, PA. 1-30-1937, p. 1.
–28 Assoc. Press. “Bright Spots in Arkansas’ Flood Picture.” Fayetteville, AR, 1-29-1937, 6.[17]
–25 Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette and Bulletin, PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
–23 Associated Press. “Status of Flood Damage in Brief.” Joplin Globe, 1-28-1937, p. 1.
–18 Associated Press. “Flood Facts.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.[18]
–12 Associated Press. “Flood Summary.” Camden Times, Camden, AR, 1-28-1937, p. 6.
–12 Harrison Daily Times, AR. “State Flood Toll of Dead Mounts to 12,” 1-26-1937, p. 1.
— 3 AP. “Three Deaths are Attributed Direct…Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-25-1937, 1.
Breakout of Arkansas Flood-Related Fatalities by Locality (where noted):
— 1 Big Lake. Carl Hunt, 33.[19]
— 1 Blytheville. Ailment attributed to the flood; Bob Fields.[20]
— 1 Blytheville, Feb 13-14. Luna Gertrude Bock; flood evacuee.[21]
— 1 Bunny area, Jan 25. Boy, ~14 found frozen to death on a creek bank.[22]
— ? Butler’s Landing near Osceola, ~Jan 24-25. (Unconfirmed report of several drownings.)[23]
— 1 Crawfordsville. Ailment attributed to the flood; Pearl Farrow.[24]
— ? Forrest City refugee “concentration camp.”
— 1 Gosnell, ~Jan 24-25. Exposure, according to Floyd Sharp, WPA Administrator.[25]
— 1 Harrisburg. Earl Franklin Ates, 10.[26]
— 1 Hughes. Abraham Joseph Levy, 54.[27]
— 1 Hughes. Ailment attributed to the flood; John Gray.[28]
— 1 Hughes area. Evacuee on way to Forest City refugee camp fell under train wheels; male, 42.[29]
— 1 Jonesboro area, Jan 25. Drowning; mother drops baby in water; going from one boat to another.[30]
— 11 Jonesboro refugee “tent city” emergency isolation hospital. Meningitis breakout.[31]
— 1 Kessler. Chester A. Williams, 11-months; at “Birmingham, Ala., “concentration camp.”[32]
— 1 Kisner Corner area, Jan 26. Drowning, Imago Wiggins, 17-months, when boat capsized.[33]
— 1 Lepanto evacuee at Birmingham, AL, refugee camp, Feb 13-14. Hogan Howard, 14.[34]
— 1 Luxora evacuee at Birmingham, AL refugee camp, Feb 13-14. Pneumonia; J. McMahan, 80.[35]
— 1 Mangrum. Mrs. L. T. Kilgore.[36]
— 1 Manila. Luther Owens, 50.[37]
— 2 Manila, Jan 29. Exposure and complications; two baby refugees.[38]
— 1 Monette evacuee, Feb 13-14, at Paragould. James Collier, 43.[39]
— 1 Osceola, ~Jan 24-25. “…a child died of typhoid…”[40]
— 1 Osceola evacuee, Feb 13-14. W. C. Weldon, 1, at Memphis.[41]
— 2 Paragould. Mrs. Tom Harvey, 35, and Mrs. Florence Hubbard, 35.[42]
— 6 Riverdale area, Little River, Jan 25. Drownings; rescue boat overturned; 3 women/3 children.[43]
–4-6 Riverdale, Jan 25. Drownings; boat overturned on Little River.[44]
–1 Riverdale. Mrs. Mary Mondy, 42.[45]
— 1 Tomato, Feb 5. Pneumonia after exposure; male Tomato evacuee, 73, in Blytheville hosp.[46]
— 1 Victoria. Mrs. Orin Clark.[47]
— 2 Whitfield area. Pneumonia following exposure; male, 60, wife, 44 (died in Memphis).[48]
— 4 Locations not noted, but were noted as recent deaths in Feb 6 Fayetteville Daily Democrat.
— 1 Location not noted. Ailment attributed to the flood; William Ford.[49]
Illinois ( 16)
–16 Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
–11 Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette…, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
— 6 Associated Press. “Status of Flood Damage in Brief.” Joplin Globe, 1-28-1937, p. 1.
— 3 Associated Press. “Flood Facts.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
— 3 AP. “Ohio Valley Threatened With Flood.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-22-1937, 1.
Breakout of Illinois Flood-Related Fatalities by Locality (where noted):
— 2 Franklin County, Jan 18. Two bodies found in flooded sector.[50]
— 3 Galena, Jo Daviess County, Feb 25.[51]
— 5 Mound City, Pulaski County, by Jan 29. Drownings when motorboat capsized.[52]
— 3 Renshaw, Pope Co. Drownings; males; their motorboat sprung a leak in river backwaters.[53]
— 3 Localities not noted, Feb 19-21. Drownings in flood water.[54]
Indiana ( 12)
–12 UP. “Armies Rush Work in Flood Area; 306 Dead.” Dubois Courier, PA. 1-30-1937, p.1.[55]
— 9 State. AP. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette…, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
— 9 State. AP. “Known Dead…Floods…137 Today.” Fayetteville Daily Dem., AR. 1-27-1937, 6.
— 8 State. Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.
— 7 “ AP. “Mounting Death Toll in Floods Passes 130.” Titusville Herald, PA, 1-27-1937, 1.
— 6 State. Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “68 Known Dead,” 1-25-1937, p. 6.
— 6 State. AP. “Flood Facts.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
Breakout of Indiana flood-related fatalities by locality:
— 1 Brownstown area, Hwy 31, ~Jan 22. Drowning; motorist; road crumbles, car goes into White Riv.[56]
— 1 Evansville. Stress-related heart attack, Weather forecaster McLin Collom.[57]
— 1 Indianapolis, White River. Jan 18. Body of drowning victim recovered from White River.[58]
— 4 Lawrenceburg, ~Jan 22-23. Exposure; died after being taken from homes in flood district.[59]
— 1 Seymour area, White River, Jan 15-16. Drowning; male; when car swept away.[60]
Kentucky (158-198)
–225 Assoc. Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, 1.
–198 Blanchard high-end estimate based on locality breakouts below.
–190 United Press. “Armies Rush Work in Flood Area…” Dubois Courier, PA. 1-30-1937, p.1.
–170 Associated Press. “Status of Flood Damage in Brief.” Joplin Globe, 1-28-1937, p. 1.
–158 Blanchard low-end estimate based on locality breakouts below.[61]
— 53 AP. “Mounting Death Toll in Floods Passes 130.” Titusville Herald, PA, 1-27-1937, p. 1.
— 44 AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Dem., AR, 1-26-1937.
— 37 Hamilton Daily News Journal, OH. “Flood Facts.” 1-26-1937, p. 1.
— 20 Associated Press. “Flood Summary.” Camden Times, Camden, AR, 1-28-1937, p. 6.
— 21 Sander and Conner. “Fact Sheet: Ohio River Floods.” Kentucky Climate Center.
— 13 Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “68 Known Dead,” 1-25-1937, p. 6.
— 1 AP. “Ohio Valley Threatened with Flood.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-22-1937, p. 1.
Kentucky breakout by locality (where noted):
— 2 Beargrass Creek, Jan 29. Vehicle goes into floodwater. LeMay. The [KY NG]… p. 14.[62]
— 1 Frankfort, ~Jan 23. Boatman drowns “engaged in rescue work.”[63]
— 8 Henderson, Jan 23. Drownings; farmer Fred Johnson, wife, and six children.[64]
— 90-130 Louisville. Blanchard range using Bell on 90 deaths and Barrett in AP on 130.
— 429 “ Deaths in the city during the flood period according to Mayor Miller.[65]
— 400 “ Bodies prepared for burial; primarily deaths related to cold and exposure.[66]
–200-400 “ Direct & indirect; by “official statements” and “authoritative estimates.”[67]
— >285 “ Harrison Daily Times. AR. “Crest of Flood Passes Memphis.” 2-9-1937, 1.
— 221 “ “Known deaths.” INS/Reece. “Waters Receding at Louisville, Ky.” 2-2-1937.[68]
— 211 “ Altoona Mirror (Coates), PA. “Crest of Flood Pounds at Cairo. Feb 3.
— 207 “ Mayor’s press conference, noting 3 from drowning and 17 on Jan 30.[69]
— ~206 “ Officially. UP. “Mayor Miller Sets Example.” Camden News, AR, Feb 12.[70]
— 60-200 “ Childress. Louisville Division of Police, 1806-2002. “Disasters.” 2005, 91.
— >200 “ LeMay. The [KY] National Guard’s Response to…Flood of 1937, p.4.[71]
— 190 “ LeMay. The [KY NG] Response to the…Flood of 1937, pp. 4-5.[72]
— 133 AP. “Status of Flood Damage in Brief.” Joplin Globe, 1-28-1937, p. 1.
— 130 Louisville Deputy Coroner J. Ray Barrett, cited by the Associated Press.[73]
— 90 Bell 2007, p. 106.
— 2 Asphyxiation
–15 Burns and explosions
— 6 Drowning
— 1 Dysentery
–10 Exposure
–28 Heart attacks (in excess of the average)
–28 Pneumonia (in excess of the average)
— 90 Burns. “Culver Military Academy Helps in 1937 Flood Rescue.”
— 90 Louisville Fire Department History.
— 90 Louisville Director of Health Dr. Hugh R. Leavell, Feb 27, 1937.[74]
–1 Jan 24. Exposure after being rescued; Henry Arnold, 74. (Bell 2007, p. 72.)
–1 Jan 24. Exposure/exhaustion from cold relief work; John Schmidt, 55. Bell. 72.
–3 Jan 26 Fire; Louisville Varnish Co., surrounded by six-feet of water.[75]
— 5 Madisonville.
–1 “ Jan 23. KY National Guardsman, drowned when boat was swamped.[76]
–4 “ Jan 25. Drownings in a flooded coal mine.[77]
— 51 Paducah. AP. “7 Bodies of Flood Victims Found in Paducah.” 2-15-1937.[78]
–20 “ AP. “Rescue Barge Capsizes in Paducah, KY., 14 Persons Drown,” 1-26-1937, p. 1.
–14 “ AP. “Floods at a Glance.” Indiana Evening Gazette, PA, 1-26-1937, 2.[79]
–1 Charles U. Parks, 22. Drowned.
— 1 Scott County, Jan 20. “Kentucky recorded one flood death…Leo Stevens…”[80]
Mississippi ( 6)
–6 Blanchard estimate based on four reported on Jan 30 and two drownings on Feb 10.
–4 United Press. “Armies Rush Work in Flood Area…” Dubois Courier, PA. 1-30-1937, p. 1.
–3 Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette…, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
–1 Associated Press. “Flood Facts.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
–1 Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “68 Known Dead,” 1-25-1937, p. 6.
–1 AP. “Ohio Valley Threatened with Flood.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-22-1937, p. 1.
Breakout of Mississippi flood-related deaths by locality where noted:
–2 Tunica, Feb 10. Red Cross rescue/relief workers drown when their small boat hits barge.[81]
–1 Tylertown, Jan 20-21. Four-month-old child drowns.[82]
Missouri (47-51)
–51 Blanchard high-end estimate using 30 for Bird’s Point barge sinking.[83]
–47 Blanchard low-end estimate using 30 for Bird’s Point barge sinking.[84]
–18 Associated Press. “Thieves Are Sought.” Joplin Globe, MO, 1-31-1937, p. 4.
–17 Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette…, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
–14 AP. “Known Dead From Floods at 137 Today.” Fayetteville Daily Dem., AR. 1-27-1937, 6.
–13 Associated Press. “Flood Facts.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
–11 Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “68 Known Dead,” 1-25-1937, p. 6.
— 1 AP. “Ohio Valley Threatened with Flood.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-22-1937, p. 1
Breakout of Missouri Flood-Related Fatalities by Locality (where noted):
–26-30 Bird’s Point-New Madrid barge capsizes, Jan 31.[85]
–24-30 AP. “Barge Disaster Probe Closed.” Moberly Monitor Index, MO, 2-9-1937, 1.[86]
–23-30 Bird’s Point-New Madrid barge capsizes.[87]
— ~28 Bird’s Point-New Madrid floodway. Barge with WPA flood workers capsized.[88]
— 26 With at least four thought to have drowned and still missing.[89]
— 26 Named reported missing (with 5 identified recovered bodies).[90]
— ~25 Bird’s Point-New Madrid floodway. Barge with levee workers sinks.[91]
— >24 AP. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2.[92]
— 20 Recovered bodies (with 19 others believed to be missing).[93]
— 15 Bodies recovered as of Feb 3, with “a dozen others…unreported.”[94]
–1 Clifford Baker of Wardell.[95]
–1 George Baker, ~55, of Catron. Brookfield Argus, MO. “Five Bodies Found,” 2-2-1937, 1.[96]
–1 Merle Ballard, ~20, of Wardell. Brookfield Argus, MO. “Five Bodies Found,” 2-2-1937, 1.
–1 C. J. Barker of Wardell.[97]
–1 William Dawson of New Madrid.[98]
–1 Frank Dean, ~28, of Catron. Brookfield Argus, MO. “Five Bodies Found,” 2-2-1937, 1.
–1 Frank Dunlap of Matthews,[99] [or Kewanee][100]
–1 Steve Gibbs of Ardelola,[101] or Bell City.[102]
–1 Orville Hindman of Bell City.[103]
–1 Loman Lafe of Advance.[104] Also reported as Lemon Lape of Bell City.[105]
–1 Frank Lambert of Catron.[106]
–1 M. L. Masters of Kennett.[107]
–1 Bob Matthews of Wardell.[108]
–1 Bob McFadden, 50, residence unknown.[109]
–1 Albert Neal of Bloomfield, MO.[110]
–1 Don Pruitt of Bloomfield, MO.[111]
–1 William Ruffin, Wardell, MO.[112] [Also noted as James F. Ruffin, Wardell][113]
–1 Harry Sanders of Bloomfield, MO.[114]
–1 Jake Schlossen [or Schlosser][115] of Bell City.[116]
–1 Floyd (or Clyde) Scott, ~48, of Wardell.[117]
–1 Raney Smith of Bell City.[118]
–1 William Smith of Wardell.[119]
–1 Luther Swinford of Bell City.[120]
–1 W. S. Tyler of Wardell.[121]
–1 Charles Williams of Wardell.[122]
–1 James A. Wilson, 61, of Puxico, MO; body recovered Feb 9.[123]
–1 Jim Wilson. AP. “31 Levee Workers Missing.” Moberly Monitor-Index, MO, 2-1-1937, 1.
–1 Charles Woodfin of Advance.[124]
–1 Unidentified man, ~46. Brookfield Argus, MO. “Five Bodies Found,” 2-2-1937, 1.
— 3 Bird’s Point area. “At least three people drowned fleeing the resulting deluge.”[125]
— 1 Cardwell area. Male farmer, 60, heart attack.[126]
— 1 Caruthersville area, MS Riv., Jan 31. Tugboat pulled under; fireman Clifford Cox, 30.[127]
— 2 Charleston, Mississippi County, by Jan 26.[128]
— 1 Kansas City, Jan 29-30. Drowning; Peter Gray, as he tried to free car from creek bed.[129]
— 10 Kennett area, by Jan 25. Pneumonia “caused by exposure during the flood.”[130]
— 1 Neelyville. Male, 73, being evacuated from his home, fell from truck he was in.[131]
— 2 New Madrid. Young woman and newborn found frozen on water-surrounded roof.[132]
Ohio (15-20)
–20 UP. “Armies Rush Work in Flood Area; 306 Dead.” Dubois Courier, PA. 1-30-1937, p. 1.
–15 State. Blanchard tally of locality breakouts (where noted) below.
–14 State. AP. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette…, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
–13 State. AP. “Flood Facts.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
–11 State. Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “68 Known Dead,” 1-25-1937, p. 6.
–10 State. Schmidlin and Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland. 1996, p. 195.
–10 State. Wikipedia. “Ohio River Flood of 1937.” 11-27-2016 modification.
— 9 State, Piqua Daily Call, OH. “Water Famine.” 1-25-1937, p. 1.
— 2 State. AP. “Ohio Valley Threatened with Flood.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-22-1937, p1
Breakout of Ohio Flood-Related Fatalities by Locality (where noted):
–1 Ada area, Jan 23 Mary Alice Krofft, 10, fess into fast-moving Grass Run creek.[133]
–1 Bellaire, ~Feb 3. Female, 68, burned to death attempting to dry out her home.[134]
–8 Cincinnati, by Jan 25. AP. “Eight Flood Deaths.” News-Journal, Wilmington, OH, 1-25-1937, 2.[135]
— 8 “ AP. “Flood Crest of 80 Feet Predicted.” Piqua Daily Call, OH, 1-25-1937, 1.
— 8 “ Brady. “Historic Disasters.” Cincinnati Magazine, Feb 1982. p. 104.[136]
–6-7 “ Piqua Daily Call, OH. “Water Famine.” 1-25-1937, p. 1.
— 6 “ By Jan 23; drownings. Two of the drownings on Jan 23.[137]
— 5 “ Drowning, by Jan 23. AP. “Death Toll Mounts.” Sedalia Democrat, MO, 1-24-1937, p. 2.
— 4 “ AP. “Cincinnati in Worst Flood in Its History.” Somerset American, PA, 1-23-1937.
–1 Lebanon, Jan 25. Drowning; John Murray; boat upset in Little Miami swift current.[138]
–3 Lisbon, Jan 30. Drownings; car went into Ohio River at Lisbon.[139]
–1 Portsmouth. Portsmouthinfo.net. 1937 Portsmouth, Ohio Flood. Accessed 12-9-2016.[140]
Pennsylvania ( 3)
— 3 State. AP. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette…, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
— 3 State. AP. “Known Dead From Floods at 137 Today.” Fayetteville Daily Dem., AR. 1-27-1937, 6.
— 1 State. AP. “Flood Facts.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
— 1 State. Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “68 Known Dead,” 1-25-1937, p. 6.
— 1 AP. “Ohio Valley Threatened with Flood.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-22-1937, p. 1.
Breakout of Pennsylvania flood-related fatalities by locality:
— 1 Pittsburgh; date not noted. Unidentified man.[141]
— 1 Pittsburgh, Jan 25. Drowning; river patrolman Charles M Snyder; slipped from motorboat.[142]
— 1 Rochester (suburban); date not noted. Albert Johnson, 36.[143]
Tennessee (18-23)
— 23 Associated Press. “Flood Facts.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
— 18 Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
— 10 Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette…, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
— 9 AP. “Known Dead From Floods at 137 Today.” Fayetteville Daily Dem., AR. 1-27-1937, 6.
— 9 Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “68 Known Dead,” 1-25-1937, p. 6.
— 7 United Press. “Armies Rush Work in Flood Area…” Dubois Courier, PA. 1-30-1937, p. 1.
Breakout of EN Flood-Related Fatalities by Locality (where noted):
— 1 Memphis, Jan 25. Boy, 10, refugee from AR; scratched foot, blood stream infection.[144]
— 2 Memphis, ~ Feb 5. AP. “Much Water Still…” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, 2-6-1937, p. 1.
— 14 Ripley area, Jan 25. Drownings; “house toppled over into flood waters near Ripley.”[145]
— 1 Tiptonville, Feb 8. TN National Guardsman on flood duty, when oil stove exploded.[146]
West Virginia (13)
–13 Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette…, Williamsport PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.
–11 Associated Press. “Status of Flood Damage in Brief.” Joplin Globe, 1-28-1937, p. 1.
–10 AP. “Known Dead From Floods at 137 Today.” Fayetteville Daily Dem., AR. 1-27-1937, p. 6.
— 9 Associated Press. “Flood Facts.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
— 9 Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “68 Known Dead,” 1-25-1937, p. 6.
— 7 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.
— 2 AP. “Ohio Valley Threatened…Flood.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, 1-22-1937, p. 1.
Breakout of West Virginia flood-related deaths by locality.
— 5 Huntington. Casto. “Flood of 1937.” e-WV (The West Virginia Encyclopedia), 12-21-2012.
— 1 Parkersburg, Jan 25. Electrocution, Cpt. Harry Judy, when rescue towboat hit power line.[147]
— 1 South Parkersburg, Jan 21. Drowning; car went into swollen Neal’s run; Dean Harvey.[148]
Narrative Information (General and/or Multi-State)
Burt and Stroud: “The worst flooding to affect the Ohio River occurred during the last two weeks of January 1937. The cities of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Frankfort and Louisville, Kentucky, all suffered their worst flooding in history, as did countless smaller towns along the river between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cairo, Illinois. One hundred thirty-seven lives were lost and 175,000 people were made homeless. In Cincinnati the Ohio River crested at 28 feet above flood stage, its highest ever, and 10% of the city submerged. Louisville fared even worse with 67% of its residential and 90% of its commercial districts under water after the river rose 10 feet higher than had ever been recorded.” (Burt and Stroud. Extreme Weather: A Guide & Record Book. 2004, 128.)
Epic Disasters: “Heavy rains flooded 12,700 square miles, destroying 75,000 homes, and leaving 600,000 refugees.” (Epic Disasters, The Deadliest US Floods.)
Geological Survey (now USGS) Abstract: “In January and February 1937 the Ohio and mid-Mississippi Rivers experienced floods which, over reaches many hundreds of miles in length, exceeded all previously recorded stages. When measured by the loss of life and property, extent of damage, and general disruption of human activities, these floods constituted a major catastrophe.
“The floods were caused by a succession of heavy rainstorms that began late in December 1936 and continued nearly to the end of the following January. Although the storms covered a considerable part of the lower Mississippi River Basin and almost the entire Ohio River Basin, the center of heaviest precipitation was in the middle and lower portions of the Ohio River Valley.
“The total storm period can be subdivided into several individual storms, which were more or less clearly demarked by short intervening periods of little or no precipitation. Although the individual storm periods were the same or nearly the same over wide areas, their subdivisions were somewhat different in the most widely separated parts of the affected areas, with intermediate gradations in the intervening areas. The heaviest rainfall that of January 20 to 25 was centered in the lower Ohio Valley, and, falling as it did upon a region with soil saturated and waterways already running full, it had the effect of producing extreme floods.
“The small quantity of snow on the ground over the higher eastern parts of the area at the beginning of the storm period disappeared in a short time. Some of the precipitation occurred in the form of snow, but this snow and the associated cold weather were much less significant in their influence on the floods than in the misery and discomfort they caused to ill-sheltered flood refugees and flood-bound people.
“Sequence and time of the storms were such that in the upper and smaller tributary basins the associated flood rises tended to clear to a notable degree before the next flood rises came; hence many of these tributaries were at no time in extreme flood. In the lower reaches of the largest tributaries, and especially on the middle and lower reaches of the Ohio River, there were extreme and almost continuously increasing accumulations of run-off, which culminated in the region of Louisville, Ky., in stages 10 or 11 feet higher than any previously known.
“The precipitation was heaviest in the Ohio River Basin, and the flood in the Mississippi River, like other notable floods of the past, was caused largely by the extraordinary contributions from the Ohio River. The river stages exceeded those previously recorded for the lower 700 miles on the Ohio River and for 250 miles .on the Mississippi River below the Ohio. At Cairo, Ill., at the mouth of the Ohio River, the river stage was higher for a period of 19 days, from January 24 to February 11, than at any previous time on record. The height above previous flood stages diminished materially as the flood progressed down the Mississippi….” [p. 1]
“The magnitude of the floods of January-February 1937 In the Ohio Valley has possibly not been paralleled even in hundreds of years.” [p. 3.] (Geological Survey. Floods of Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, January-February 1937. 1938.)
Havern: “A period of heavy rainfall and melting snow this spring saw the Ohio and Mississippi rivers exceed record flood levels. The rivers’ waters rose so high that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had to demolish an earthen levee resulting in the controversial sacrifice of Missouri farmland in order to spare the city of Cairo, Ill., located at the confluence of the two great rivers.
“The preceding record for flood levels was established during the winter of 1937 and saw the inundation of cities from Cincinnati to New Orleans. Even though corrective steps had been taken following the floods of 1937 to prevent the recurrence of such disasters, the heavy rainfall of January and February resulted in unprecedented crests of the rivers.
“According to the United States Weather Bureau, the rainfall resulted from irregular weather patterns which saw abnormal barometric pressures and the colliding of warm, moist southern tropical air masses with cooler northern polar air masses. The resulting precipitation from the collision of these fronts dropped an estimated 165 billion tons of water in the Ohio and Mississippi River Basin. This was enough to cover over 200,000 square miles of land to a depth of over 11 inches. In only 12 days, January 13 through 14, Louisville, Ky., received 15 inches of rain. Over 19 inches of rain fell over the course of the month of January. As a result, 70 percent of the city was submerged, forcing 175,000 residents to flee. Across the river 90 percent of Jeffersonville, Ind., was flooded….The extent of the damage throughout the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys caused the American Red Cross to claim that the deluge shattered all previous records for natural disasters in the United States.
“At the direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, the United States Coast Guard mounted the largest relief expedition in the history of the service. The Coast Guard mustered a relief force of 142 officers and 1,706 enlisted men to assist the Red Cross in responding to these massive surges. Units from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts in addition to stations on the Great Lakes provided men and equipment. Captain (later Rear Admiral) LeRoy Reinburg, Commandant of the Coast Guard Depot at Curtis Bay, Md., was placed in command of the Coast Guard’s effort. He initially established his headquarters at Evansville, Ind. Later, he moved his headquarters to Memphis, Tenn., as the crest advanced southward down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
“Rescue operations extended from January 19 through March 11 and involved 351 boats of all types. In addition, 24 cutters, ranging from 75-foot “Six-Bitters” to 165-foot patrol boats, were sent to assist in saving life and property. The Coast Guard chartered special trains in order to facilitate the transportation of many of these craft from their stations to the focal points on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Along with boats and cutters, the Coast Guard employed additional assets to include 12 aircraft. Ten of these were amphibians, which could operate on land and the water. These aircraft were used in reconnaissance work and in delivering medicines and medical workers. The other two aircraft, Northrop and Lockheed transports, flew in large quantities of supplies from the Eastern seaboard into the affected areas. The Coast Guard also deployed 12 portable radio sets and 12 communications trucks which served as mobile radio stations. These contributed to the establishment of an emergency radio network that included 244 stations.
“In responding to the floods, the Coast Guard faced some very interesting dilemmas. In Cincinnati, for example, the flood waters of the Ohio River caused the spill of thousands of gallons of gasoline from storage tanks. This fuel was ignited and, ironically, produced fires in buildings surrounded by water. In response the Coast Guard boats pumped the flood waters into the already inundated buildings to extinguish the flames and prevent the spread of fire.
“The winter temperatures also saw floating ice in the northern-most parts of the rivers. These small icebergs acted as hazards to navigation and sometimes resulted in the capsize of rescue crafts.
“Reports of discrimination by local authorities in the rescue of non-whites in distress had reached the headquarters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. This caused the organization’s assistant secretary, Roy Wilkins, to make an appeal to the commandant of the Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Russell R. Waesche to ensure that the Coast Guard ensure that local authorities rendered assistance to all those in need regardless of race. In response Waesche gave his assurances that the Coast Guard was making no discrimination ‘in rescue and relief operations’ and forwarded an instruction to Reinburg that ‘no discrimination is shown.’
“The Treasury Department’s Annual Report for Fiscal Year 1937 stated, ‘The relief force, besides rescuing 839 persons from peril, transported 67,613 refugees to safety, afforded transportation to thousands of Red Cross officials and relief workers, saved 1,993 head of livestock, carried mails, towed disabled boats and floating buildings to safety, helped to restore telephone and telegraph service, aided in preventing looting, and otherwise extended all aid within its power to be of assistance.’….” (Havern, Christopher (Coast Guard Historian’s Office). “The Great Ohio, Mississippi River Valley Flood of 1937,” Coast Guard Compass (Official Blog of the U.S. Coast Guard), 6-4-2011.)
Moxom: “It is impossible to give even an estimate of the amount of loss and damage that occurred in the Ohio and lower Mississippi Valleys at this time. The hardest hit of the larger cities probably was Louisville, Ky., where nearly 70 percent of the city was under water and about 175,000 people were forced to leave their homes. Jeffersonville, Ind., across the river was 90 percent inundated and 13,000 people fled from their homes. In the Evansville, Ind., district about 90,000 people were forced from their homes. Cincinnati, Ohio, because of its higher elevation, was probably more fortunate in that only 10 percent of its area was covered by water. However, the city was practically paralyzed by loss of water, power, heat, and light, and nearly helpless to combat fires that broke out.
There were a number of smaller cities along the lower Ohio River that were completely submerged. The whole city of Paducah, Ky., with a population of between 30,000 and 40,000, was evacuated…” (Moxom. “Rivers and Floods,” Monthly Weather Review, Feb 1937, p. 77.)
NFPA: “The Ohio River flood, which occurred late in January and early in February, 1937, has been recorded as one of the greatest disasters in the history of the United States. The best estimates indicate that the total property damage resulting from this flood amounted to $500,00,000 and that approximately one million persons were made homeless….” [p. 322]
“Unusually heavy rainstorms along the 1283-mile course of the Ohio River during the month of January, 1937, resulted in a total rainfall of three to four times the normal amount for the month of January. This heavy rainfall was due to warm rain-laden air being sucked up from the south into a low-pressure area extending northeastward over the Ohio River Valley. This low-pressure area was located between a high-pressure area of cold air over the central portion of the United States and another high-pressure area off the Atlantic Coast. The moisture in the warm air condensed upon meeting the cold air masses and heavy rains fell steadily for all but a few days during a period of three weeks. With the ground saturated by previous heavy rains and the Ohio River already above normal, flood conditions resulted which considerably exceeded previously recorded peak levels along the greater part of the river.” [p. 323]
“….At the headwaters of the Ohio at Pittsburgh, Pa…this year’s flood came well below the 1936 record breaking height. As the flood descended toward the mouth of the river its level continued to increase due to the large volumes of water added by various tributary streams. The crest at Cincinnati was nine feet above the previous maximum. At Portsmouth, Ohio, the river was twelve feet above the flood wall. At Louisville, Ky., more than sixty per cent of the city was inundated and nearly two-thirds of the population had to leave their homes. At Evansville, Ind., approximately one-half of the city was under water. Near the lower end of the river, Paducah, Ky., was almost completely under water, but Cairo, Ill., at the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, was protected by a levee and escaped damage. The levee had been heightened by an emergency wall, but the flood came just below the top of the original levee.” [p. 324]
“Fortunately at the time of the Ohio River flood, the level of the Mississippi River was below normal so that with extensive flood works and sand bagging, army engineers were able to prevent serious damage along the Mississippi, It is also worthy of note that several cities, including Dayton located along the Miami River, which empties into the Ohio River, suffered no damage because of the automatic operation of a flood control system installed along the Miami River following the disastrous 1913 flood.” [p. 325]
(National Fire Protection Association. “The Ohio River Flood.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 30, No. 4, April 1937, pp. 322-345.)
NWS: “The Great Ohio River Flood of January – February 1937 surpassed all prior floods during the previous 175 years of modern occupancy of the Ohio River Valley. 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. Seventy percent of Louisville was submerged, forcing 175,000 residents to flee. 90 percent of Jeffersonville, Indiana, was flooded. 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!!
“At Louisville, the crest of the 1937 flood is still a full ten feet higher than the second highest crest (set in 1945). At McAlpine Lock, the 1937 flood crested at 85.4 feet. By way of comparison, flood stage is 55 feet.
“Louisville received fifteen inches of rain in only 12 days, from the 13th to the 24th of January. Over 19 inches of rain fell over the course of the month (Louisville’s wettest month ever recorded). No measurable snow fell during the entire month.” (National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Louisville, KY. “1. The Great Flood January-February, 1937.” Top 25 Weather Events of All-Time in Central Kentucky and Southern Indiana. 3-4-2010 update.)
Webley, et al. “Date: January-February 1937.
“Significance: The flood of record for the Ohio River; $20 million in damages.
“Holmes says: The flooding was so widespread, people were left homeless some 30 miles away from the river. This impacted people for months — you had families moving in with other families for weeks on end.” [Listed as second of “Top 10 U.S. Floods”.] (Webley, Kayla and Robert Holmes (USGS). “Top 10 Historic U.S. Floods.” Time. 5-11-2011.
Newspapers (Multi-State Coverage)
Jan 18: “Chicago, Jan. 18.–Rain clouds today swept new terrors through the make-shift shelters where thousands of refugees huddled out of reach of raging river torrents in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri. While national guardsmen mobilized to patrol weakening levees in southeastern Missouri and Red Cross officials administered to stricken farmers in southern Indiana and Illinois, government observers warned that more rain today may add to the threats of the most dangerous winter floods since 1927.
“Five persons were dead, three in Ohio and two in Indiana. Barns and light equipment have been swept off hundreds of farms, and highways and residences have been damaged for thousands of dollars. Business losses of river bank factories and mines mounted hourly as rising waters forced abandonment of operations.
“Farmers and river-front dwellers in Pennsylvania and Ohion, housed for ficve days by neighbors and public officials, packed the few belongings they saved from the inundation and prepared to return to their homes in dread anticipation of finding them coated with mud and ice, or swept away by the torrents.
“In Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri, however, other hundreds were warned that the rivers roaring past their homes had not yet carried off the burden of unseasonable rains in the upper Ohio and Missouri valleys, that more rains today may sweep the torrents still farther inland. Refugees in southeastern Missouri pinned their homes on 1,000 WPA workers and nearly as many national guardsmen fighting day and night to keep the St. Francis within its levees….” (United Press. “Rain Brings New Terror of Floods.” Altoona Mirror, PA, 1-18-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 19: “Drenching downpours wrought new havoc along glutted streams in the muddy Ohio valley Monday [Jan 18]. Rains ranging from 1 to more than 2 inches sent the mighty Ohio out of its banks in some sectors and raised fear of serious flood damage along its 980 mile course from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Ill. The broad river and its tributaries swelled steadily. Hundreds of low-landers joined several thousand others who had fled to the hills. Red Cross units established quarters to care for refugees in the inundated areas….An army of workmen strengthened threatened levees. Turbid waters swashed through the streets of several communities and crushed over thousands of acres of land….Many schools were closed. A number of merchants in the danger zones boarded up store fronts and carried stock to upper floors. At least four deaths were attributed to the inundations.
“A forecast of fair weather with temperatures dropping as low as 18 degrees presaged the end of the excessive rainfall in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio. These states bore the brunt of the flood damage although streams splashed over the countryside also in Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky.
“Cincinnati experienced its thirty-first flood in 54 years. The Ohio river reached the 55 foot level there, three feet above flood stage, and was expected to reach 58 or 60 feet by Thursday. The Muskingum and Licking rivers submerged highways near Zanesville. Marietta shop keepers transported stock to upper floors. Cottage dwellers were routed along the Little Miami. The Red Cross cared for 27 persons at Newton. Deputies rescued four children from a marooned home at Miami Grove. Two hundred residents of Rome were isolated. Water swirled through Ripley streets. Fifteen families evacuated their houses at Manchester.” (Harrison Daily Times, AR. “Flood Danger is Made Worse by Heavy Rains.” 1-19-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 20: “Cincinnati, O., Jan. 20–(UP)–The nation mustered its flood rescue forces today to feed and shelter nearly 10,000 refuges, rescue hundreds of families marooned by fast-rising Ohio Valley rivers, and prevent if possible a repetition of the 1913 disaster. Eight were known dead and property damage and business losses estimated more than $200,000. Government observers warned the worst of the flood is yet to come.
“The flood picture by states:
“Pennsylvania–Ohio River and tributaries receding after light damage. Refugees returning to homes.
“Indiana–Worst stricken state; refuges estimated unofficially at 4,000. Principal danger point, north of Evansville. Nine counties given emergency relief
“Kentucky–1,000 homeless or preparing to evacuate along Ohio River; 100 homes threatened along Tennessee River.
“Illinois–Estimated 1,000 homeless. Hundreds of others warned to evacuate by end of week.
“West Virginia–Several hundred families homeless in vicinity of Pt. Pleasant.
“Ohio–Flood waters receding in eastern sections, reaching crest in west. Ohio River one foot from top of levee in Cincinnati.
“Government observers said it was the second time in history that the entire 1,000 miles of the Ohio River was flooded. The Ohio was several times its normal width in many places. A similar crisis last March caused $200,000,000 property damage, but most of that occurred in the east which as apparently escaped the present threat.
“The Red Cross set up disaster relief headquarters in Evansville, Ind. Red Cross workers from 20 cities reported they were rescuing marooned families, and 70 other chapters stood by for emergency duty.
“The Chicago Coast Guard shipped six life saving boats to the district north of Evansville to aid in rescue work. Others will be sent from Great Lakes divisions in a few hours, it was reported.
“More than 2,000 WPA workers and volunteers piled sandbags on top of weakening levees in Missouri, Indiana and Illinois. Nearly as many National Guardsmen aided levee work and assisted emergency police patrols in rescues in Missouri, Ohio and West Virginia.
“Principally flooded rivers beside the Ohio were the White and Wabash in Indiana, the Kaskaskia in Illinois, St. Francis in Missouri, and Tennessee in Kentucky. Scores of smaller tributaries spilled over their banks into fertile farm land in seven states.
“The men, women and children, sometimes numbering entire populations of small communities, found refuge in public buildings, abandoned schoolhouses, and with upland neighbors. Mt. Carmel, Ill., officials appealed for emergency housing accommodations.
“Rain fell last night in southern Ohio, Indiana and Illinois and northern Kentucky, but was expected to drain off into the Mississippi before the flood crest reaches them. New rains were forecast today, and may seriously increase inundation if they are heavy.
“Flood dangers centered today in western Ohio, northern Kentucky and southern Indiana. The Ohio river abated in the east. Pittsburgh reported a steady drop and expected a return to normal in a few days.
“Rains brought new dangers to southern Illinois. Tributaries of the Ohio, principally the Kaskaskia, have overflowed into scores of small cities and forced complete abandonment of some, flooded mines, and swept away valuable farm property. Cities along the Ohio were fortified with high sea walls and expected little threat until next week.
“New rains renewed flood threats in Missouri, where the St. Francis river burst its levees in 10 places. More than 50,000 acres were covered by flood water, and as much more threatened. Heavy damage to livestock and farm buildings was feared.” (United Press. “8 Known Dead in Ohio Flood; Bad in Other States.” Chester Times, PA, 1-20-1937, pp. 1-2.)
Jan 21: “Chicago, Jan. 21.–Nearly 80,000 persons were unofficially estimated homeless tonight in the flooded areas of the Mid-West. Meantime, rain or snow continued to fall over a wide section, resulting in predictions by meteorologists that most of the rivers, already running above flood stages, would reach even higher levels.
“Red Cross and relief agencies rushed food, clothing and tents and blankets into every zone that called for assistance. Ten states reported heavy damage.
“The entire populations of Lawrenceburg and Aurora, Ind., were moving out. Flood waters of the Ohio river threatened to crush newly built levees. Calls for help were sent to Indianapolis. A special relief train was being made up to take supplies to the stricken areas. Three Indiana towns and five in Kentucky were without electricity when flood waters of the Ohio river cut off the electric light and power company at Troy, Ind.
“Citizens of Portsmouth, O., were given four hours to abandon the business district before sewers were to be opened to let in Ohio river flood waters.
“One death was reported at Tylertown, Miss., where a four-month-old negro drowned….
“The overburdened Ohio swelled steadily from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Ill. But the worst, meteorologists warned, was yet to come. More rain, turning to snow as temperatures fell, was forecast. The Mississippi edged up hourly.
“At Portsmouth, O., 500 men piled sandbags on the 60 foot sea wall. But City Manager Frank Sheehan advised 13,000 of the community’s 43,000 citizens to prepare to evacuate.
“Cincinnati calculated its losses at $1,000,000. The warehouse and provisions district was inundated. Police received more than 500 calls for boats and trucks. Residents were warned the Ohio might crest there at 66 to 68 feet–far above the 52-foot flood stage. Only twice in recorded history has the stream passed the 66 feet mark.
“Calls for help sent hundreds in boats to the aid of families trapped along the Ohio upstream from Cincinnati. More than six feet of water lapped in the streets of Pomeroy. Most of the homes in Ripley and Manchester were encircled by water. New Richmond, Higginsport, Rome and Newtown were seriously affected.
“Hundreds joined the exodus from Kentucky lowlands. A passenger train was ditched by washed out rails near Slaughters. Several persons were hurt. National Guardsmen were ordered to stand by for duty at Hopkinsville, Livermons, Covington, Maysville, Marion and Mayfield. Troops were requested by officials of Wickliffe, Eddyville and Augusta. Parts of Frankfort on the Kentucky river, were threatened. At Newport, Ky., 50 city blocks were submerged and six steel mills suspended operations….” (Associated Press. “Nearly 80,000 Homeless And Damage Mounts High In Middle West Floods.” The Titusville Herald, PA, 1-22-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 22 (AR, MO, TN): “Memphis, Jan. 22 (UP). — Wartime emergency measures were taken today to care for more than 10,000 persons driven from their home into freezing rain by rising waters in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee. A major flood was assured for the Mississippi river, U.S. officials said today at Cairo, Ill. The river stage there would equal and probably go above the all time record of 1927 — when it touched 56.4 feet. No crest is in sight. Pneumonia and influenza spread in the wake of the devastating floods. Serious food and fuel shortages developed at several points. Water supplies were contaminated. Many were still marooned without proper food and shelter. The towns of Arbyrd in southeast Missouri and Lester, Arkansas were inundated by flood water. Cardwell and Kennett, Mo., were practically isolated and Leponto was in the path of a flood way that was sure to be flooded with the expected break on the Big Lake-Little River west of Blytheville, Ark. A fresh check showed at least 12,250 persons driven from their homes in the three states with conditions growing worse….” (UP/Valco Lyle. “10,000 Made Homeless By Flood Waters.” Camden News, AR, 1-22-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 24: “Washington–President [Roosevelt] appeals for $2,000,000 to succor nearly 300,000 homeless in flooded Ohio and Mississippi river valleys.
“Cincinnati–Ohio river reaches unprecedented stage of 72.9 feet, with $5,000,000 damage forecast, 11 square miles of city inundated.
“Portsmouth, O.–Twenty thousand refugees watch water flow 11 feet deep through city streets; acute shortages of food.
“Frankfort, Ky.–Reformatory evacuates 2,900 prisoners after 24 attempt escape by swimming; all but one recaptured.
“Louisville, Ky.–Several square miles of city under water; 6,000 homeless; theaters, schools closed.
“Paducah, Ky.–Ohio covers half city, forcing between 8,000 and 10,000 to evacuate.
“Evansville, Ind.–Fifty river boats embark with supplies for other flooded river towns.
“Cairo, Ill.–Two hundred workers reinforce levees at confluence of Ohio and Mississippi rivers, with water rising.
“Shawneetown, Ill.–First report in 36 hours pictures an imperiled, pneumonia, 500 persons huddled high school.” (Associated Press. “Food and Water Shortage in Flood Bound Cities Increases Suffering.” Sunday Times-Signal, Zanesville, OH. 1-24-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 25: “Power, water and food shortages added to the torment of fire, flood and disease Monday [Jan 25] in the Ohio river valley — the focal point of rising river waters which swept disaster into 10 states and left an estimated ½ million persons homeless.
“At Cincinnati, blazing gasoline tanks riding the swirling waters brought an ever-present fire menace.
“Louisville, Ky., was in darkness Sunday night with 200,000 of its 350,000 population homeless.
“National guardsmen threatened to use force to carry 5,000 more from Portsmouth, Ohio.
“As the area counted at least 44 flood deaths, the river continued to rise further upstream, heightening the menace….” (AP. “1-2 Million Homes Flooded.” 1-25-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 25: “Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 25…Army engineers blasted open the Birds Point-New Madrid ‘Fuse Plug’ levee today below Cairo at 11:12 a.m. …Two tons of dynamite opened a gaping 70-foot crevasse in the front line levee, permitting waters to surge through into the 131,000 acre floodway designed to relieve flood pressure on Cairo.” (AP. “Engineers to Dynamite Near Cairo, Illinois.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-25-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 26: “Washington (Associated Press) — Congress hastens consideration of $790,000,000 work relief appropriation bill, which President Roosevelt says will be used to aid flood disaster victims until extent of damage is determined, Maj. General Malin Craig, army chief of staff, calls Ohio river flood ‘worst that ever happened.’ Red Cross renews public appeal for $4,000,000 in contributions….” (AP. “Floods at a Glance.” Indiana Evening Gazette, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 26: “Illness, suffering and death rode the crest of the worst floods in the nation’s history late Monday night, forcing cities and towns on an 1,800 mile front into a state of siege. Martial law or its equivalent existed throughout the ravaged Ohio Valley from Cincinnati to Cairo.
“Louisville, Ky., ordered under rule of the military by Gov. A. B. Chandler, was one of the last to join the steadily growing list. The city, without electricity, waster and adequate medical supplies, was in a desperate situation. Tho hundred thousand were homeless. Epidemic was feared. There was a paralyzing shortage of boats. Refugees were bundled aboard trains for transportation to higher ground–but there was no assurance the trains could proceed more than a few miles. Men, women and children still huddled in upper stories of stores and homes.
“More than 600,000 were homeless in the vast flood area, reaching from Pittsburgh, Pa., in the east, to Cairo, Ill., in the midwest and Memphis, Tenn., in the south. Seventy-eight were known dead. Flood waters rolled over thousands of square miles and the crests moved constantly higher.
“The Red Cross doubled its plea for money and asked that $4,000,000 be contributed to the Flood Relief Fund. It already had set aside $1,000,000 in the fight against raging waters which gnawed and broke through levees and left whole cities desolated….
“Seven hundred and forty-nine trained nurses were ordered to disaster scenes. Forth thousand WPA workers were in the field, assisted by thousands of volunteers and national and coast guardsmen. There was desperate need of medicine, food, clothing and boats.
“The list of dead by states includes: Ohio, 10; West Virginia, 4; Illinois, 1; Indiana, 8; Pennsylvania, 2; and the midsouth states, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi, 42….”
(Dubois Courier, PA. “78 Dead, Martial Law Rules, Worst Flood In History.” 1-26-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 27: “The dead in the mightiest flood ever to strike this nation reached high into the tragic hundreds today and the army, bolstering the levee defenses of the Mississippi, prepared — should the worst come — to evacuate the endangered along its course….
“The homeless in 11 states were estimated by the Red Cross at nearly 1,000,000; the property damage conservatively was estimated at above $400,000,000.
“At Louisville alone official statements combined with authoritative estimates put the dead from the flood directly or from its effects at from 200 to 400….” (Associated Press. “Disease Rife in Flood Wake.” Bradford Era, Bradford, PA. 1-28-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 27: “Washington. – Admiral Cary T. Grayson, chairman of the Red Cross, reported 700,000 persons were homeless along 1,800 mile flood fronts. House approved and sent to Senate $790,000,000 relief bill after President Roosevelt promised every cent would be used for flood victims if necessary. Federal agencies including 50,000 WPA workers moved to aid sufferers on war-time basis.” (Associated Press. “Flood Situation at a Glance,” 1-27-1937.)
Jan 27: “Dangerous stress was thrown on the great levee system of the lower Mississippi river today, with a vastly greater threat to come, as the nation’s worst flood rolled down the Ohio valley leaving more than 125 dead, 550,000 homeless and estimated damage above 300,000 million dollars.” (Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “125 Dead, 550,000 Homeless…Flood…” 1-27-1927.)
Jan 29: “The nation’s record flood crept forward today toward the next danger area — levees between Cairo, Ill., and Memphis on the Mississippi — as Army and civilian corps piled sandbags and gumbo mud on 300 miles of set-back levee walls in a desperate effort to avert disaster.
“The Ohio River, a vast lake 50 miles wide in places from Pittsburgh to Cairo, eased its pressure along its upper stretch….
“Louisville, Ky., still largely inundated, but the crest was past and headed for isolated Paducah.
“The known dead exceeded 325….” (Associated Press. “Strengthen Levees Below Cairo; Death List at Louisville Grows.” Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport, PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 29: “A tired rescue army of 120,000 persons labored Friday night to take care of a million homeless, bury 306 known dead and help to rehabilitate the terrific flood losses in the upper Ohio river, while lowering clouds threatening new rains over the Ohio and Tennessee valleys inspired another army of one hundred thousand workmen to speed their efforts to strengthen weak points in the levees of the Mississippi….
“Dozens of towns have been evacuated into 220 refugee camps established by the rescue armies, and fifty emergency hospitals are filled with sick. Influenza, pneumonia and kindred diseases are spreading and sewage problems are becoming serious in many of the larger cities that were partially submerged by the record high waters….
“The shovel army, working without rest on levees from Cairo to the Gulf, faced its hardest battle in two ‘danger sectors.’ One reached from Cairo to Tiptonville, Tenn. The other was at Mellwood, Ark. Army engineers rushed 2,000 fresh men to a section a few miles above Tiptonville when waters began to eat into an earthen structure there. They said the situation was ‘dangerous’ but apparently in hand.
“Near Mellwood, national guardsmen with fixed bayonets, drove stubborn farmers from their lowland homes….
“The Red Cross reported it…was operating 220 refugee camps and 50 hospitals. It had 130,000 relief workers in the field.
“In Washington, President Roosevelt appointed a four-man committee of government relief and reconstruction experts to survey the flood area from Memphis to Pittsburgh. Their recommendations will cover both recovery from the present disaster and prevention of those in the future….” (United Press. “Armies Rush Work in Flood Area; 306 Dead.” Dubois Courier, PA. 1-30-1937, p. 1.)
1943, Valley Morning Star: In “1937…the Ohio and Mississippi Valley disaster made more than 1,000,000 homeless and took 466 lives.” (Valley Morning Star, Harlingen TX. “Floods Halt War Factory,” May 27, 1943, p. 1.)
State Specific Information:
Arkansas
Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture: “A cold, rainy January in 1937 set the stage for one of the worst floods — if not the worst — in Arkansas. Corrective action undertaken during the preceding ten years kept Mississippi River levees along Arkansas’s border from breaking, however, thereby preventing a repeat of the Flood of 1927. Nevertheless, eleven Arkansas waterways overflowed, inundating or otherwise affecting seventeen adjacent counties. Eleven additional states flooded, from West Virginia to Louisiana, affecting 1.5 million people in 196 counties and submerging 8,141,182 acres (12,721 square miles) along the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys. This natural calamity shattered all previous disaster records, excluding World War I, according to the American Red Cross (ARC).
“Flood conditions developed over January and February 1937 from abnormal barometric pressure over much of the northern hemisphere interacting with air masses, creating aberrant weather patterns. Eastern and western seaboard pressure zones caused moist, southern, tropical air masses to thrust northward, while northern polar air masses thrust southward. This combination of colliding elements brought extremely heavy rainfall, estimated by the United States Weather Bureau (USWB) at 165 billion tons of water, to eleven states along the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys — enough rain to cover about 204,000 square miles to a depth of 11.2 inches, according to the USWB. Arkansas recorded 12.61 inches of rain in January — 8.22 inches above normal. The day before President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s second-term inaugural ceremony, floodwaters began surging into Arkansas counties….
“Arkansas’s floodwaters inundated 1,037,500 acres of agricultural land and 756,800 acres of other land, affecting 40,916 families and their livestock. To shelter the evacuees, the ARC established seventy-five camps (tent cities) and concentration centers (existing structures) equipped with special livestock corrals. Twenty-nine field hospitals staffed by 166 nurses tackled the needs of patients and performed immunizations against typhoid and diphtheria, among other diseases. A tent city near Jonesboro (Craighead County) was the only refugee location where disease broke out. Meningitis appeared there on February 5 in a child. An emergency isolation hospital was prepared to house the eventual thirty-six cases that resulted in eleven deaths….
“Hardest hit areas in the Flood of 1937 were outside Arkansas; nevertheless, Arkansas suffered the highest human death toll and injury. With aggregate disaster building repair exceeding $5.75 million and the cost of replacing household goods at more than $6.75 million, Arkansas losses in these categories seemed almost trifling. However, rural Arkansas families living along backwater areas suffered extensively.
“Data from the American Red Cross’s 1938 Report on the Flood of 1937….
Families Affected 40,916….
Deaths 37
Injuries 322….
Livestock Losses 34,085.”
(The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. “Flood of 1937.”)
NWS: “Although the Mississippi Valley Flood of 1927 was recorded as the greatest disaster this country had ever suffered, the Ohio-Mississippi Valley Flood of 1937 was nearly twice as big! This flood nearly equals the two largest previous disasters — the Mississippi Valley Flood of 1927 and the Drought of 1930-31 according to the Report of Relief Operations of the American Red Cross 1937.
“Only 10 years from the worst flood in Arkansas history, the 1937 flood came as a shock to some. As opposed to the previous flood, this event occurred over the winter months when widespread influenza and pneumonia made it more difficult to help flood victims. Undoubtedly, next to the World War, it was from the standpoint of human suffering, destruction of property, and cost, the worst disaster in the history of the nation.
“For the first time in this country’s history, there was deliberate flooding of spillways: land over which the federal government had acquired flowage rights and through which the waters were diverted in order to prevent the flooding of other places. This so called “fuseplug” levee development, was in Cairo, IL, at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
“Similar to the 1927 flood, a swollen Mississippi River caused problems as it made its trip toward the Gulf of Mexico. For Arkansas, the major effects were seen at the confluence of the Mississippi, White, and Arkansas Rivers in southeast Arkansas. As far as localized heavy rainfall, Arkansas received up to 12.5″ in the month of January, 8″ above normal for January. Arkansas floodwaters inundated over 1 million acres of agricultural land and affected over 40,000 families and their livestock. Arkansas suffered the highest human death toll of any other state with 37 fatalities and 322 injuries.” (National Weather Service. Flooding in Arkansas. “The Ohio-Mississippi Valley Flood of 1937.”)
Newspapers on Arkansas Flooding
Jan 12: “Rising rapidly the Ouachita river stood at 28 feet this afternoon, two feet above flood stage. An expected crest of 32 feet is forecast for the local stream. Livestock owners have been warned to clear the bottom lands for the overflow. Flood stage is 26 feet and the river is beginning to spread out over several miles. Water is running over the Kent highway in places and this road will be completely under water if the river reaches the 30-foot stage….
“New Port, Ark., Jan. 12 (UP) — Bitter cold howled into the White River valley early this week causing heavy property damage. Heavy rains also caused residents to peer anxiously at river readings, both on the Black and White rivers…” (Camden News, Camden AR. “River Lowlands Flooded.” 1-12-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 14: “Rising rapidly within the past few hours, the Ouachita river is due to reach a new high of 32 feet on Thursday [Jan 14], according to a telegram received today by John Knight, local weather observer….” (Camden Times, AR. “River Due to Reach 32 Feet.” 1-14-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 16: “Little Rock, Jan 16 (AP) — Rains and melting Missouri snow sent rivers in northeast and southwest Arkansas higher today with the weather bureau warning 1935 flood conditions may again appear….Batesville on the White river had a 3.2 foot rise to 31.2 at 7 a.m. today, 8.2 feet above flood stage….At Newport, downstream, the White measures 27.8 feet, 1.8 feet above flood level….State highway 14 from Newport to Batesville was impassable this morning because of high water. The Ouachita began falling at Arkadelphia and rose only .4 feet at Camden to a height of 32.4, 6.4 above flood stage.” (Camden Times, AR. “River Due to Reach 32 Feet.” 1-14-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 18: “Two inches more rain fell here over the weekend causing the Ouachita river to continue to rise and reach stage close to 33 feet this afternoon. The crest of 34 feet is expected to be reached and maybe surpassed, according to John Knight, local observer….The river is nine miles wide in some places although few people are in the flooded area….This is the highest stage for several years and the highest modern stage was 42 feet in 1927….Rain also fell in the watershed above Camden and many creeks and streams went out of their banks Sunday [17th] because of the heavy downpour….” (Camden News, AR. “River Reaches New High Mark.” 1-18-1937, p1.)
Jan 20: “Reaching 33.3 feet today the Ouachita river continued to rise slowly here, but more rain within the past 24 hours may cause the river to exceed the 34 foot crest predicted for today. Almost an inch of rain fell here last night and more rain was forecast. The river is now eight feet above flood stage and has spread out over several hundred acres in South Arkansas…
“El Dorado, Jan. 20…Depth readings at government lock No. 8 east of the city revealed last night that the Ouachita river had risen .5 feet in the past 24 hours to a depth of 29.4 feet, about two feet above flood stage. At lock No. 6, Huttig, the river was reported to be .6 feet above flood stage, a depth of 23.6. The river there is rising at the rate of .4 feet every 24 hours.
“Little Rock, Jan. 20 (AP)…State military department moved to relieve suffering in distressed areas by sending approximately 150 national guard tents to house the refugees.” (Camden News, Camden, AR. “River Crest May Exceed 34.” 1-20-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 21: “Little Rock, Jan 21 (AP) — Heavy rains sent another rush of flood waters down overburdened Arkansas streams today, closed four additional highways and overflowed streets in a number of towns. The state military department reported it had received more requests for tents to house refugees than it could fill. Helena asked for 1,000 tents for refugees expected when Mississippi backwaters overflow lowlands. Major Pat Harris said there was not 1,000 tents in the entire corps area, but that the department would send an additional 150 to eastern Arkansas for distribution. The department sent out 140 yesterday. A heavy downpour at DeValls Bluff today left two feet of water standing in the lower part of the business section….
“Armed guards were posted at Newport to prevent any interference with the levee. The Ouachita rushed up .5 foot at Arkadelphia today and climbed 15 feet at Camden where it already was more than seven feet above flood stage. The stream was expected to reach 38 feet at the latter point Monday….
“An estimated 150,000 acres of land were under water in divergent sections of the state. Several hundred were homeless….” (Fayetteville Daily Democrat, Fayetteville, AR. “Many Streams Are Out of Banks.” 1-21-1937, pp. 1 and 6.)
Jan 23, AR: “Little Rock, Jan. 23. — Snow, sleet, rain and cold winds, harassed the thousands of refugees and relief workers in flood-stricken Arkansas yesterday. Additional levee breaks added hundreds of homeless to the list of refugees and covered about 100,000 acres of land. Federal and state agencies hurried relief efforts as conditions became more acute. The WPA and the CCC, under United States army command, were attempting to comply with all requests for aid. The Arkansas National Guard, deluged with a request for 2,690 tents, was directing the state’s relief efforts….” (Harrison Daily Times, AR. “More Dikes go Out Adding to Flood Ravages.” 1-23-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 27: “Little Rock, Ark. — Martial law declared in eastern Arkansas when Mississippi threatened to burst levees. Troops began evacuation of 50,000 in vicinity of Mellwood, near Helena.” (Associated Press. “Flood Situation at a Glance,” 1-27-1937.)
Illinois
Jan 26: “Cairo, Ill. — Army engineers dynamite levees leading to Birds Point, New Madrid, Mo., floodway and easing of pressure temporarily holds river stage about stationary at 58.65 feet on Cairo side of Mississippi. Workmen rush construction of three-foot seawall bulkhead to meet expected 61-foot crest.” (Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 27: “Cairo, Ill., Jan. 27. — Entrenched behind strengthened levees, Cairo settled down tonight to await the flooding Ohio river’s worst — a predicted 62-foot crest by Sunday [Jan 31] — while the river dumped its turgid load into the brimming Mississippi. This was practically a city of men. Women and children left by the hundreds, transported by boat, truck and train away from the flood danger. Officials said all but 5,000 of the normal 15,000 residents were gone. Five hundred women remained to aid flood fighters.
“Above Cairo the Ohio smashed through a setback levee at Mound City [Pulaski County] and covered the town of 2,500 under five feet of water in half an hour. Rescue boats were sent for 125 CCC workers marooned in the courthouse there. Authorities said 10 feet of water would cover the community by daybreak….” (AP. “Cairo Awaits River’s Worst.” Bradford Era, PA. 1-28-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 27: “Cairo, Ill. – Mississippi levees dynamited anew to divert flood burden to Missouri lowlands and relieve threat at Cairo.” (Associated Press. “Flood Situation at a Glance,” 1-27-1937.)
Indiana
Bell on Jeffersonville: “No community suffered greater disruption than Jeffersonville, Indiana. The entire downtown business center was submerged, and most buildings had water to the second-floor windows. Over 3,800 of the 3,900 houses in the town were flooded.” [p 62]
“Virtually the entire population of 15,000 was evacuated.” [p. 64] (Bell, Rick. The Great Flood of 1937: Rising Waters, Soaring Spirits. Louisville, KY: Butler Books, 2007.)
Newspapers on Indiana Flooding
Jan 21: “The flood area of the midcontinent grew wider today as overburdened rivers, swelled anew by rains, sent surplus water over thousands of acres of farm land and menaced life and property in many communities. Unofficial estimates indicated at least 20,000 persons were driven from their homes by surging flood waters, Coast Guard units, the Red Cross, American Legion forces, and an infantry unit joined civil authorities in aiding refugees. Hazleton, Ind., bore the brunt of the flood’s latest onslaught. The village was inundated to a depth of 12 feet when the White river broke through a levee. More than 200 families fled to higher ground. Several hundred families evacuated Evansville, Ind., where the rising Ohio river threatened destruction….” (AP. “Indiana Hard Hit.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 1-21-1937, p. 6.)
Jan 23, Evansville: “Evansville, Ind., Jan. 23.–(AP)–Disease added tonight to the terror which swept across the entire breadth of southern Indiana as flood waters of the Ohio river reached the highest points known since the state was settled. Emergency hospitals were set up in downtown Evansville as scarlet fever spread among the thousands of persons driven from their homes. All the regular hospitals in the city were filled to capacity.
“At least 100 streets were flooded here tonight as the river rose past the 1913 stage of 48.3 feet and climbed toward the crest of 51 feet which has been forecast by McLin C. Collum, U.S. weather bureau head.
“Approximately 200 national guardsmen patrolled the streets. The water spread so rapidly over the city that it was impossible to build barricades fast enough to hold traffic back. There was no street car service. The water rose late today over the Dress Plaza, a river front project recently completed at a cost of $1,500,000. School officials ordered Central and Bosse high schools closed and the buildings at Bosse have been turned into a Red Cross emergency relief station.
“All up and down the Ohio river valley, weary, homeless persons, now numbering nearly 40,000, prayed tonight for food, warmth and rescue. Many on roof tops and on the second floors of their homes, waiting for boats to come to their rescue….” (Associated Press. “Refugees Stricken With Scarlet Fever.” Sunday Times-Signal, Zanesville, OH, 1-24-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 23, Lawrenceburg: “Lawrenceburg, Ind., Jan 23–(AP)–Every building in Lawrenceburg was under water tonight as this flood-congested city counted four dead in its worst flood in history. No persons were know to be missing. The dead, all from exposure, were:
- Carr, 70.
A Mr. Conrad, a tubercular.
Mrs. John Cartann, 80.
George Cartann, 58, her son, pneumonia.
“All were taken from homes in the flooded district and all but George Cartann died in hospitals.
“There were 22 flood sufferers at two hospitals today. The worst case was that of a two-year-old baby suffering from pneumonia….
“The total flood damage was estimated by B. C. Bielby, attorney and member of the Red Cross relief committee at $1,500,000, which includes loss to buildings, furnishings and merchandise….
“The flood did not come suddenly with the breaking of the levee, members of the Red Cross committee said. Warnings had been issued in plenty of time, it was said, and persons caught when water went over the levee, were those who were trying to help others.
“It was not until four or five hours after the water went over the wall that the water in town leveled off to a stage the height of the levee.
“Several persons were carried away by the swirling water but saved themselves by clinging to trees and roofs until they were rescued.
“Although the water is up to the second story in all but seven or eight building optimism was expressed by V. M. O’Shaughnessy, general chairman of the Red Cross relief committee. He estimated the cost of rehabilitating at $75,000.
“The water tonight stood at 74 feet, one foot higher than the levee.
“Approximately 5,500 of Lawrenceburg’s 6,000 residents are refugees from the flood.” (Associated Press. “Entire Town Under Water With 4 Dead.” Sunday Times-Signal, Zanesville, OH, 1-24-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 26: “Evansville, Ind. — About 8,000 to 102,000 residents start exodus s Ohio nears 53-feet depth, 18 feet above flood stage, with 55 foot level predicted.” (Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 27: “Evansville. – Evacuation of territory along the Ohio river in southern Indiana attain major scale.” (Associated Press. “Flood Situation at a Glance,” 1-27-1937.)
Kentucky
Bell on Louisville: “Louisville’s river level is measured at the 26th Street gauge located at the Portland Canal. A measurement of 28 feet on that gauge constitutes a flood stage; the level where the Ohio River begins to leave its banks and invade living areas. Eclipsing all other floods in recorded history, the Great Flood of 1937 would reach 57.15 feet, more than 29 feet above flood stage.” [p. 9]
“In January 1937 the city recorded an amazing 19.17 inches of rainfall, about half of the normal annual average precipitation. During the five-day period of January 20 through 24, the city received 10.3 inches of rain, plus several additional inches of snow and driving sleet.” [p. 13]
“The Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) hired 6,650 local workers to aid in flood relief. Two tent cities were build by the WPA for refugees. The facilities were segregated, with 800 white citizens housed in the tent city on Algonquin Parkway, and 1,200 African-Americans put up in the tent city at George Rogers Clark Park on Poplar Level Road. The operations and maintenance of the tent cities were the responsibility of the American Red Cross. Eventually, the WPA supplied 15,000 workers to Kentucky and provided over 1.5 million dollars in supplies.
“The WPA also took over the Fire Department’s responsibility of pumping out basements. The workers maintained pumps in the Brown Hotel for 563 hours and at City Hall for 260 hours. WPA workers also removed and buried dead livestock and animals in the city and county in six-foot-deep trenches. The WPA buried over 3,000 horses, mules and cows, 4,000 sheep and hogs, and 7,500 small animals — chickens, dogs and cats….
“During the crisis the Red Cross inoculated 220,000 people for typhoid. They were providing hot meals and relief for 230,000 a day. The citizens of the United States donated over 25 million dollars in flood relief for the Ohio Valley.
“Each Red Cross staff member served an average caseload of 177 people In the course of the Ohio-Mississippi Rivers Flood of 1837, six American Red Cross workers lost their lives….” [pp. 84-85]
“On January 26, the city faced another brush with disaster. A serious fire broke out at the factory of the Louisville Varnish Company at 14th and. Maple Streets belonging to industrialist Col. P. H. Callahan. It was feared that burning varnish would. spread over the flood waters and burn down Louisville, but firemen, working in water six feet deep, were able to dynamite the buildings and prevent its spread. The fire did more than $500,000 in damage and resulted in three deaths, but it could have been much worse. The fire was visible all over Louisville and many reported thinking it was the end of the world.” [p. 97]
“Following weeks of rain and rising waters, the Great Flood finally crested at 2:00 a.m. on January 27. By 3:00 a.m., the water began to recede. The crest was 57.15 feet, more than 29 feet over flood stage and ten feet higher than the previous record.” [p. 97]
“Reports of deaths were becoming more common. Rumors swept the town, often aided by erroneous press reports. An out-of-town Associated Press reporter sent over the wire that ‘900 bodies were seen floating,’ and unburied bodies were being cremated or hurried into mass graves.
“The actual number of drowning victims was small, only six confirmed deaths during the entire crisis in Louisville. A white man in overalls was reported drowned near Taylor Boulevard, while an African-American was found at Fifth and Breckenridge and another in the 600 block of South 34th Street….” [p. 101]
“Public health was the foremost concern. Extreme condition caused by the incessant rainfall, bitterly cold temperatures, immersions and the presence of communicable diseases signaled the potential for a true disaster. Dr. Hugh R. Leavell, the City of Louisville’s Director of Health, led the fight to preserve health and resist epidemics. He instructed citizens to boil their water and add a drop of iodine to every gallon.” [p. 103]
“One of the great wonders of the 1937 Flood is not that people died, it is that many more did not. For months afterwards, many local [Louisville] deaths could be directly attributed to the stress of the Flood. Several well-known public officials died within weeks of the crisis. Professor George Tilden Ragsdale was the founder and superintendent of the Louisville Police Academy, and for 22 years a member of the faculty of Louisville Male High School. By February 2, he had worked himself to death. Mayor Miller stated ‘the professor’s death undoubtedly can be traced to his incessant labor during the flood emergency…”
“In two weeks a better known community leader died of pneumonia. ‘General’ Percy Haly had been an important political figure in Kentucky since the death of his political mentor, the assassinated governor, William Goebel, Accounted Deputy Provost Marshall, Haly…[D]uring his rare breaks for sleep, the 65 year old Haly climbed up and down 13 flights of stairs to his heatless room in the Brown Hotel.” [p. 107]
“After 18 days above flood stage, on Sunday, February 7, the Ohio River finally descended to its normal flood stage of 28 feet. On that day electrical power was restored to all areas, including the West and South Ends. Churches were allowed to reopen that Sunday and the serious work of cleanup and assessment had begun.” [p. 115]
“The economic impact of the Great Flood to Louisville and Jefferson County was staggering. It was estimated that the ’37 Flood caused in excess of $52 million damage in Louisville alone (this represents more than $710 million in today’s dollars). [p. 120] (Bell, Rick. The Great Flood of 1937: Rising Waters, Soaring Spirits. Louisville, KY: Butler Books, 2007.)
Louisville Fire Dept. “January 1937, the mighty rains came, filling the Ohio Valley with gloom and foreboding. The river had lost its beauty and the romance of its undulating waters was no more. By January 1937 the river was quite simply, an ugly site. One no longer need go to the river; the river was instead doing the traveling. On January 6, nearly an inch of rain fell. Three days later, rains began in earnest; nearly half the rainfall for a full year fell during that one month. By January 13th the river had risen three feet, by January 20th, eighteen feet. By then, boats were rescuing families in the Point, and as the water continued to rise, it was obvious the City was facing a major disaster. On January 22nd some West End residents began leaving the area; on January 23rd, the rise reached 30 feet, equaling the 1884 flood, the highest ever recorded. By January 24th, the river had risen another three feet; electric power was now out. Mayor Miller ordered the evacuation of all residents west of Fifteenth Street. The flood finally crested on January 27th, at nearly 11 feet over the 1884 record, and then began a slow retreat. 75% of the city had been inundated and 250,000 residents affected. There were 90 flood related deaths and $50 million in property damages. Although the Fire Department had sustained much damage itself, it helped lead the way in Louisville’s recovery.” (Louisville Fire History)
Paducah: “Paducah was built on the banks of the Ohio River at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. For almost all of its life, Paducah and the river cooperated to promote the growth of the city. But on January 21, 1937, the Ohio River rose above the 52.7 foot flood stage and the waters flowing over the earthen levee laid siege to the city. The flooding was caused by unusually heavy rainfall; in Paducah 18 inches fell in 16 days. It was in January, and at times the flood waters had a skim of ice. For two weeks the river continued to rise, cresting at 60.8 feet on February 2, and about 27,000 residents were forced to evacuate and live in temporary shelters, or with friends or relatives. The river slowly receded and dropped below the 50-foot flood stage on February 15, and the residents started to return to clean up the mess.” (Osborne, Tom. “The 1937 Flood in Paducah.” Teamneon.com.)
Newspapers on Kentucky Flooding
Jan 25: “Eddyville, Ky., Jan 25 (AP) — The police force here has orders from County Judge Franklin Utley to ‘shoot on sight’ anyone caught plundering — and especially anyone molesting $50,000 cash stored away in a dry goods store. Backwaters of the Cumberland river invaded the Bank of Eddyville and forced the bank to move its cash or get it soaked. It was moved to the mercantile store where it is under constant guard.” (AP. “Shoot Plunderers on Sight is Order of Kentucky Judge.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-25-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 26: “Louisville — Army troops move to establish martial law called by Gov. A. B. Chandler at request of city’s emergency relief committee. Fire breaks out in downtown district. Continue evacuation of two-thirds of 330,000 population. All electrical power off. Water supply limited. Ohio river reaches 56.3 foot stage, still rising.” (Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 27: “Louisville, Ky., Jan 27. Sudden realization that flood victims in Louisville alone may total hundreds broke upon this harassed city today as police brought 130 bodies out of the completely submerged west end. Mayor Neville Miller estimated Louisville’s flood deaths at 200 in a radio broadcast to the nation tonight…
“J. Ray Barrett. Deputy coroner, said 130 bodies had been taken out of the west end. He maintained the victims had died of heart failure, exposure, and pneumonia. Barrett insisted none of these had drowned.[149]
“Police brought the dead back to half a dozen depots where nine undertakers had been sworn as deputy coroners.
“The city is fighting against deadly increasing illness and the [looks like “threat”] of epidemics, despite the arrival of fresh loads of doctors…medical supplies, 600 federal soldiers and hundreds of police flown here today…” (AP. “Disease Rife in Flood Wake. Fear Louisville Will Yield 200 Victims’ Bodies. Police Bring 130 Corpses from City’s Completely Submerged West End.” Bradford Era, Bradford, PA. 1-28-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 27: “Louisville. – Federal troops established military rule. Thirty of city’s 40 square miles inundated. Ohio river stationary at 56.9 feet. Some 230,000 homeless.” (Associated Press. “Flood Situation at a Glance,” 1-27-1937.)
Feb 1: “Louisville, KY. (AP)….The river continued to go down. The gauge registered 53.5 feet, compared with last Wednesday’s unprecedented peak of 57.1. It was still 6.8 feet higher last night than the previous record of 46.7 in 1884.
“The mayor’s press conference reported 17 deaths were recorded Saturday [Jan 30], making the total 207 for the flood period. Three were said to be from drowning….
“A strict quarantine went in force in an effort to check disease. The territory within a five mile radius of the city was barred to incoming traffic, except on urgent business. Outgoing traffic was not stopped. A section of the West End was placed under an absolute quarantine for both incoming and outgoing traffic.
“The major problem facing the city’s relief organization was the caring for thousands of persons who will not be allowed to return to their water-soaked homes until the Board of Health has examined the buildings….” (AP. “Louisville’s Flood Loss Figures Grow; River Drops Slowly.” Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport, PA, 2-1-1937, p. 2.)
Missouri
Jan 9: “St. Louis, Jan 9.–(AP)–As one of the bitterest sleet storms in the state’s history swept into southeastern Missouri with renewed force tonight several communities were menaced by flood warnings as well as probable isolation over the weekend….Several rivers and streams were spreading over adjacent lowlands and threatened to cut off highway travel to several towns….” (Associated Press. “Southeast Fears Floods.” Sunday News and Tribune, Jefferson City, MO, 1-10-1937, p. 5.)
Jan 20: “….New rains renewed flood threats in Missouri, where the St. Francis river has burst its levees in 10 places. More than 50,000 acres were covered by flood water, and as much more threatened. Heavy damage to livestock and farm buildings was feared.” (United Press. “Nation Musters Rescue Forces to Aid Refugees.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, MO, 1-10-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 23: “Kennett, Mo., Jan. 23.–(AP)–Evacuation of all marooned families in the flooded St. Francis river lowlands in Dunkin county and the Pemiscot county floodway before morning was predicted by officials directing rescue work tonight. Boat crews pushed through freezing flood waters to bring refugees to Kennett, Senath, Cardwell and other towns where Red Cross and relief agencies are providing food and shelter. Forth government engineers, under George Little and his assistant, Bob Hunter, were in charge of rescue activities.
“Fear of an epidemic of pneumonia among the refugees increased today when six cases were reported. Preparations for the establishment of an emergency hospital were being made under the direction of Dr. Wheeler Davis, head of the Dunklin county health unit. After a conference with Mayor Clive Oakes, Dr. Davis announces cots and bedding of the national guard armory were available and the hospital would be opened in the basement of a local church if more pneumonia cases developed.
“Hundreds of the homeless gathered in Kennett aid stations, many clutching the few treasured articles they had snatched from the flood. Others possessed only the clothing they wore…. ‘Approximately 900 families of the two flood districts are receiving care from the Kennett and other co-operating units in various towns,’ John C. Wilson, district representative of the American Red Cross, said tonight.
“Rescue workers provided a graphic description of the desolation in the region tonight. Hundreds of homes are flooded, some even to the roof. Dead livestock, frozen or drowned, are found on every farm. Boat crews were forced to break ice in a cove to reach a stranded family. The family of George Thomas was rescued, after reports that Thomas’ wife and five children had drowned were circulated here.
“Rescuers set out to find 20 families marooned in the floodway area in northwest Pemiscot county.
“Sam Houston, army engineer, said all available government and private boats had been pressed into service and that more were under construction here.
“No estimate can be made of the number of homeless in this region, officials said… Besides the 900 under Red Cross care, there are additional hundreds who have found refuge at the large plantations….” (AP. “Boat Crews Rescue Flood Refugees.” Joplin Globe, MO, 1-24-1937, p. 3.)
Jan 27: “Charleston, Mo., Jan. 27.–(AP)–The task of rescuing 125 persons still flood-marooned, caring for scores of the sick in emergency hospitals and sandbagging levees to meet an Ohio river flood crest weighed heavily tonight upon the fertile southeast Missouri ‘boot heel’ county. The dead, including exposure cases, totaled 14. More than 20,000 refugees were fed and sheltered at high points.
“Even as the feverish work was pursued throughout the night, farm and town talked of the news from Washington–the army decision to evacuate ‘if necessary’ all persons within 50 miles of the Mississippi river from Cairo, Ill., to the gulf. Such a 50-mile sector in the ‘boot heel’ would sweep in five counties, Mississippi, Scott, Pemiscot, Dunklin and New Madrid–with a total population of 144,000. And that only touches on the picture….
“The Rev. A. B. Cooper, in charge of Red Cross work in this area, gave a graphic word picture of that situation after conferring at the spillway’s edge with surveying aviators and boat drivers…. ‘There are 55 persons on Barnes ridge in the sound end of the spillway. They are on the tops of houses–or something. Two boats are trying to reach them. Twenty-five more are at Sugar Tree. There are two men in a tree at No. 34 corner. Three people are 12 miles southeast of Charleston in a house occupied by a man named Reeves. Nine are at Riley Bennett’s. That is a combination house, store and lunchroom. Two are at Brino place at the Black bayou bridge. Two negroes are at Windyville below East Prairie. There certainly must be 125 in that spillway at least. The homes of the 5,000 persons who have left are all surrounded by water but I haven’t seen any yet that were upset (army pilots earlier reported seeing the first rush of released overflow waters from the Ohio-fed Mississippi crush a few houses like cardboard). Our boats, some of them capable of carrying 15 or 20 at a time, will take off those people just as fast as we can get to them. I do not believe they are in great danger as yet although the spillway does appear to be 10 to 15 feet under water in places’….” (Associated Press. “125 Are Believed Marooned In S.E. Missouri Spillway.” Joplin Globe, MO, 1-28-1937, p. 1.)
Ohio
Schmidlin and Schmidlin: “The greatest volume of water ever known to pass along Ohio’s southern shores flooded all Ohio River communities during the last two weeks of January 1937. Ohio River levels on 26-27 January were the highest known from Gallipolis downstream past Cincinnati to the confluence with the Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois.
“Crests were 20 to 28 feet above flood stage from Gallipolis to Cincinnati and 4 to 9 feet above all previous records. The river level at Cincinnati crested 28 feet above flood stage and 8.9 feet above the February 1884 record. Flood levels above Gallipolis to Marietta, Martins Ferry, Steubenville, and East Liverpool were 10 to 20 feet over flood stages, but a few feet short of the record levels set in March 1913 and March 1936…. [pp. 190-191]
“The American Red Cross mounted a huge rescue and relief effort in the twelve-state flooded region of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys. In Ohio, 54,641 families were affected by the flood, the greatest numbers in Washington, Lawrence, Scioto, and Hamilton Counties (American Red Cross 1939). Red Cross statistics showed 10 people were killed and 16 injured y the flood in Ohio. This is an extraordinarily low number of casualties for a disaster of this magnitude and contrasts sharply with the 467 killed in the March 1913 floods….” [p. 195]
(Schmidlin, Thomas W. and Jeanne Appelhans Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland: A Chronicle of Outstanding Weather Events in Ohio. Kent State Univ. Press, 1996, pp. 190-195.)
Jan 9-10: “Rains of spring season proportions within a 48-hour period ending Sunday afternoon [10th] sent smaller streams in the county [Scioto] out of their banks for several hours and has caused a boom in the Scioto and Ohio rivers that is expected to put water over the Y road on route 52 for the second time within a few weeks. The stage here at 8 a.m. today was 34.7 feet and the rate of rise 2.2 inches an hour. Local rivermen advanced the opinion that cooler temperatures in the Ohio valley will halt the river rise. The rate of rise had dropped at noon to less than 2 inches an hour….” (Portsmouth Times, OH. “Streams Cover Roads After Heavy Rains.” 1-11-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 11: “Cincinnati, O., Jan. 11–(AP)–Receding waters at the source of the Ohio river decreased today the probability of a disastrous flood in the Ohio valley. After rising to within a foot of the 25-foot flood stage at Pittsburgh, the river started to fall as high water moved into the lower valley where low-lying roads and fields already rested under water. Meteorologist W. C. Deveraux, flood observer for the Ohio river who has predicted within a fraction of a foot most of the important floods in the valley since the historic 1913 inundation, said there was small likelihood that the river would rise to a dangerous stage.” (Associated Press. “Little Danger of Flood In Ohio Valley.” The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH, 1-12-1937, p. 8.)
Jan 14: “Columbus, O., Jan. 14–(AP)–The state highway patrol reported today that high waters threatened to close many sections of Ohio highways. Route 97 between Belleville and Lexington, Richland county, and route 101, between Tiffin and Clyde, were closed. Water poured over routes 13 and 78 in Richland county, routes 30, 25 and 68 in Hancock and Hardin counties, and routes 25 and 40 near Piqua. Mail deliveries out of Big Prairie were halted because route 226 was submerged. The patrol reported that waters were rising rapidly in most of Ohio’s rivers and streams. An overnight downpour of 1.6 inches left U.S. route 250 under water east and north of Ashland today. Sections of U.S. route 42 southwest of Ashland were submerged. One-way traffic was maintained between Ashland and Mansfield. Swollen streams threatened to flood other roads south of Ashland.
“Cincinnati, Jan. 14.–(AP)–Heavy rains that fell in various portions of Ohio today sent creeks and rivers overflowing their banks but brought from Flood Expert W. C. Deveraux, Cincinnati meteorologist, renewed assurances that there were no immediate indications of damaging flood conditions. Rain of more than an inch at Cincinnati and Hamilton caused the Great Miami and creeks in Butler county to break their banks, inundating some secondary roads and many low-lying fields. The Great Miami rose five feet in 24 hours and continued to rise at Hamilton but, barring further heavy rain, was expected to pass a crest and recede without material damage….
“The 1.15 inches of rain that fell in Cincinnati early in the morning brought this total fall for the 14 days of January to 3.53, the heaviest for the period in many years. Hamilton also reported 1.15, Sidney, 2.01, Piqua 2.25, Eaton 2.04, Franklin 1.35, Miamisburg 1.3, Urbana 1.24, Tippecanoe City 1.56. The Great Miami was a foot above flood stage of 14 feet at Pleasant Hill, where 1.88 inches of rain fell.
“High water conditions in south-western Ohio were matched in north-western Ohio. The Blanchard river near Findlay was 9.5 feet above normal and rising steadily. Water overflowed into Findlay’s city park and roads near the city were covered in five places.” (Associated Press. “Streams Rise and Inundate Ohio Highways.” Zanesville Signal, OH, 1-14-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 14-15: “Receding waters of the unseasonal flood which spread over the lowlands in the Richland county area yesterday [14th] bared miles of damaged county roads, left another highway impassable after the swollen Cedar Fork stream washed out a bridge approach, and left in its wake unestimated damage to Bucyrus homes which were surrounded by water. Damage of $20,000 was caused to state and county highways, bridges and ditches as flood waters swept over them in the past 24 hours…Sweeping around abutments of a 40-foot steel bridge on county highway No. 30, Perry township, Cedar Fork creek waters isolated the span from the highway as it washed out the road approach…Three other county highways were closed as the Black Fork creek, nearing flood stage, backed water over them for stretches of a mile or more….” (Mansfield News-Journal, OH. “Flood Loss $20,000 in County.” 1-15-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 16: “Cincinnati, Jan. 16–This city, where the Ohio river crept today to within 4 inches of the city’s 31st flood in 54 years, made ready tonight for the next time the stream gets unruly. City Manager C. A Dykstra approved a tentative draft of a ‘disaster code’ which would make him the commander-in-chief of all relief workers in the event of a catastrophe. He requested the city solicitor to place it in proper legal form for presentation to city council. If adopted, it would avoid in the future such duplication of effort by public and private agencies as marked relief work during the 1933 and 1936 floods. The code, modeled after similar codes in Los Angeles and other large cities, would enable Cincinnati to organize its forces quickly also for disastrous fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and the like.
“Safety Director John H. Ames disclosed the tentative draft as the Ohio river, swollen by severe rains that forced many of its tributaries from their banks, receded from a crest of 51.66 feet. Flood stage is 52 feet here but only homes in low-lying sections and frequently water-invaded business structures are affected at that level.
“The code would provide for a disaster council with the mayor as chairman and an executive board made up of committees of city officials, private agencies, and the Red Cross. It would make the city manager a virtual dictator over the fire, water, public utility, police, street and public health departments from the time he declared an emergency existed until he declared that it had ceased. Workers would draw no compensation beyond the regular pay of those city employees among them.” (Associated Press. “Dykstra Plans ‘Disaster Code.” Portsmouth Times, OH, 1-17-1937, p. 19.)
Jan 19: “….Cincinnati experienced its 31st flood in 54 years. The Ohio neared the 55 feet level there, three feet above flood stage, and was expected to reach 58 or 60 feet by Thursday [Jan 21].
“The Muskingum and Licking rivers submerged highways near Zanesville. Marietta shop keepers transported stock to upper floors….The Red Cross cared for 27 persons at Newtown. Deputies rescued four children from a marooned home at Miami Grove. Two hundred residents of Rome were isolated. Water swirled through Ripley streets. Fifteen families evacuated their houses at Manchester.” (Associated Press. “Hundreds Flee From Rising Waters.” Somerset Daily American, PA. 1-19-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 20: “Cincinnati, Jan. 20–(AP)–The mighty Ohio eased away from flood heights along its upper reaches today, but elsewhere continued toward its crest with prospects of a prolonged ‘siege’ in the lower valley. Flood Expert W. C. Devereaux stood pat on his prediction of a 60-foot crest at Cincinnati, despite the immense of light rains from the west and south. The river topped 59 feet shortly before dawn and was rising two-tenths of a foot every three hours….”
(Associated Press. “Long Siege By Flood Forecast.” Lima News, OH. 1-20-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 21: “Cincinnati, Jan. 21 (AP) — The flood-burdened Ohio river surged upward today under pressure of fresh rains, driving thousands of families from their homes and causing damage to Cincinnati business houses which police estimated in excess of $1,000,000. Rising nearly three feet in the ten hours under the impetus of more than two inches’ rain, the river reached a stage three feet above the crest of March 1936 flood, equaling the high mark of the 1933 inundation — 63.6 feet, 11.6 feet above the city’s flood stage. Upstream at Portsmouth, a city of more than 40,000, City Manager…warned all residents except those living in hilltop districts to prepare to leave their homes and business establishments.” (Fayetteville Daily Democrat, Fayetteville, AR. “Many Streams Are Out of Banks.” 1-21-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 22: “[Cincinnati]….The greatest flood in history gripped Cincinnati. Roaring waters of the Ohio River reached 72 feet–21 feet above flood level–and was rising at the rate of three-tenths of a foot an hour.
“New Richmond, O., with a population of 1,800 was completely inundated today. The river front area of Clermont County was under marital law as 200 National Guardsmen from Batavia and Hillsboro took charge of relief work. The villages of Neville, Shilo and Moscow also were under water. It was estimated there were 5,000 homeless in Clermont County.
“At Marietta and Parkersburg, the river stood at 40.5 feet. Flood stage there is 36 feet. The Ohio was expected to surpass the 48-foot level it reached last spring in those cities.
“The Muskingum River, which flows into the Ohio at Marietta, also provided a serious flood danger. The Muskingum was five feet over flood stage at Zanesville. They city’s widely known ‘Y’ bridge was closed and guards were posted on it. The Licking River also overflowed inland.
“Total January rainfall in the Ohio Valley was 10.04 inches after Thursday night’s rains. In March, 1913, total rainfall was 9.02 inches.
“The Ohio WPA sent truckloads of food, bedding and clothing to the river towns today. The Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation was asked to send food in carload lots….” (United Press. “Floods Worst In 24 Years.” Athens Messenger, OH, 1-22-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 22: “Portsmouth — (UP) — The Ohio River, which gushed into Portsmouth, a city of 43,000, today through open sewer valves and over the top of its million dollar flood wall, rose steadily as hard rains continued throughout the valley and added new fears for a populace experiencing its first serious flood in 24 years. The river stood at 62.7 feet–more than six inches over the wall at 9 a.m. It was rising at the rate of two inches an hour. Government observers were unable to estimate when the crest would be reached. Waters of the swollen Ohio and Scioto Rivers poured into the city for the first time when city engineers opened sewer valves early today. Whistles sounded the alarm and the valves were opened when it became apparent that the water would come over the flood barrier, and to equalize the pressure on both sides.
“Most of the 15,000 whose homes or business places lay in the six square miles of flooded area were securely quartered in public buildings or in the residential section on the hill. Perhaps 2,000 remained in their homes, however, moving their belongings to second floors. Should the river reach a 70-foot stage, city officials said, the water would be into second stories of many homes and it would be necessary to remove residents by boat.
“City manager Frank E. Sheehan, who directed evacuation of the flood zone all Thursday night without a major casualty, estimated the flood damage would reach $100,000. Other unofficial estimates ran as high as $1,000,000 when large industrial plants such as the Wheeling Steel Corp. and the Selby Shoe Co. were forced to close.
“The water stood as much as 10 feet deep on Front and Mill Streets on the waterfront. Most of the business district was under from one to six feet of water. Water poured into the basement of the new $600,000 post office. It was a foot deep back of City Hall and a stiff wind lashed the water into waves against the building. The tallest building in town, the eight-story First National Bank Building, was in the flood’s path. The water was six feet deep at the Hurth Hotel, largest in the city. The LaSalle Hotel also was flooded.
“Gas service to Portsmouth consumers will fail when the river reaches the 65-foot level, company officials warned today. At the present rate of rise, gas service would stop in 15 hours.
“The city’s three hospitals were crowded. Many who had been ill at their homes were taken to the hospitals….” (United Press. “112,000 Homeless; Property Loss Mounting to Millions; Portsmouth Wall Threatened.” Athens Messenger, OH, 1-22-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 23: “Cincinnati, Jan. 23.–The debris-laden Ohio river, moving sluggishly yet treacherously at unprecedented flood stage, claimed tonight its fifth and sixth human lives from drowning in the greater Cincinnati area. The murky streams crawled slowly upward to reach a stage of 73 feet here at 9:30 p.m. (EST) 21 feet above flood stage.
“Two negroes were drowned when a rescue boat capsized. Two Red Cross workers were removing the victims and two others from inundated buildings. The last negro to step into the craft upset it, throwing all occupants into the water. Firemen and a steamer crew rescued the two Red Cross workers and two of the negroes. Four accidental drownings occurred previously.
“Barney Houston, Cincinnati fire chief, said danger from fire after more than a million gallons of gasoline flowed from overturned storage tanks and tank cars to Mill creek apparently had passed. Firemen feared any spark would have converted the turbid waters into a devastating wall of moving flames. The creek borders Cincinnati’s Union Railroad terminal and follows a course through an industrial area.
“More than 75,000 Ohioans were homeless in the valley of the Indians’ ‘Beautiful River,’ ruled as never before by the flood gods. For 300 miles down the stream from Martins Ferry the story was much alike–here a milk shortage threatened–there food running low. In that city gasoline pumps drew their last fuel, and in adjacent towns, hundreds of persons clung to second-story rooms, still waiting to be rescued.
“Waters 72 feet deep pounded Cincinnati, in whose metropolitan area semi-official estimates reckoned the homeless at 56,500. Approximately one-seventh of Cincinnati’s 72 square mile area was inundated….” (Associated Press. “Report 75,000 Homeless in Area of Cincinnati.” Sunday Times-Signal, Zanesville, OH, 1-24-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 23: “Portsmouth, O., Jan. 23.–U.P.)–The threat of a serious epidemic hung over this flood-stricken city of 43,000 today as physicians reported a menacing shortage of medicine and medical supplies. Two hundred cases of influenza have been reported. The three hospitals were over-crowded.
“Cincinnati, O., Jan. 23.–(U.P.)–The record-breaking Ohio river flood was thought nearing its crest here when the river remained stationary at 72.6 feet between 6 and 7 a.m. today. The flood level is 52 feet. U.S. Meteorologist W. C. Deveraux said the river might rise another inch or two before receding. Continued cold, forecast for tonight and Sunday, was expected to keep snow from melting and prevent any unexpected rise in the river. It was believed the worst for this flood stricken city, where property damage already amounted to $5,000,000, was over.
“The union terminal was closed as train service stopped. Only the Southern Railway operated out of the city.
“Total January rainfall here was 10.98 inches, a new record. Deveraux said rapid recession of the river might not begin for a week.
“Utility officials said electric service probably would be uninterrupted if the river did not rise above 73 feet. Public schools were ordered closed for a week beginning Monday. One grave danger was possibility that water service would be stopped because of water from the river pouring into the pumping station at the water works faster than it could be pumped out.” (United Press. “Ohio Cities Believe Flood Crest Is Near.” Van Wert Times-Bulletin, 1-23-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 25: “Cincinnati, O., Jan. 25.–(AP)–Meteorologist W. C. Deveraux in a meagre bulletin predicted a flood crest in Cincinnati of 80 feet. The latest reading registering on the gauges showed 79.6.
“Greater Cincinnati’s 750,000 persons fell today into the grip of a grave water famine. With it arose a new threat to the health of a city one-seventh flooded, in capricious paradox, by an Ohio river swollen 28 feet above flood stage. The possibility that water would be available only 15 or 20 minutes a day followed curtailment of the flow to only a few hours out of every 24. City Manager C. A. Dykstra warned the city, in which 65,000 were homeless and eight dead as the result of the worst flood in its history: ‘It is imperative that you use water only for cooking and drinking purposes. Not a drop should be waster.” Coupled with the water shortage was a shutoff of all but a seventh of the city’s power supply.” (Associated Press. “Flood Crest of 80 Feet Predicted.” Piqua Daily Call, OH, 1-25-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 25: “Zanesville, Jan. 25–(AP)–Waters of the lower Muskingum River rose threateningly today on the heels of a 24-hour rain to inundate the greater part of this city of 37,000 inhabitants. Police ordered the evacuation of dangerously flooded areas as the river, which had dropped to 30-3 feet Sunday afternoon, climbed rapidly toward an expected crest of 35.5 feet.” (Associated Press. “Zanesville In Peril,” Daily News Journal, Wilmington, OH, 1-25-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 26: “Cincinnati — Ohio river virtually stationary at unprecedented 80-foot level, more than 28 above flood stage. City has 60,000 homeless. City Manager C. A Dykstra cuts water ration to one hour a day, says it may be reduced to 15 minutes daily later. Health department advises supply is polluted, should be boiled.” (Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 26: “Portsmouth, Ohio — Ohio rive rise slows at 73 feet. Food supplies reach 35,000 homeless. Evacuate 600 refugees, plan removal of 5,000 others in flooded areas….” (Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 27: “Cincinnati, Jan. 27 — A weary city turned eagerly to the tasks of re-habilitation tonight, hopeful its trial by flood and fire was ending….The river sprawled over twelve square miles of the city, one fifth of its area; $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 of damage had been done….Meanwhile, the thousands of dispossessed must be fed, clothed, sheltered and protected from disease….” (AP. “River Falling at Cincinnati.” Bradford Era, PA. 1-28-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 27: “Cincinnati. – Water famine plagued city. Water covered a fifth of urban area. Some 65,000 homeless. Ohio river stood at fraction of an inch below 80 feet.” (Associated Press. “Flood Situation at a Glance,” 1-27-1937.)
Pennsylvania
Jan 2: “A steady downpour of rain, changing at times to sleet, today caused creeks in the county[150] [Indiana County] to rise menacingly and ice coating the highways made driving hazardous. Starting at 3:00 a.m., the downpour had been continuous until noon and more rain was forecast….The Shelocta C.C.C. camp reported its gauges showed a fall of a half inch up to noon. It also reported creeks in the district rising, with Crooked Creek nearing the flood stage….” (Indiana Evening Gazette, PA. “Rain Raises Creeks…” 1-2-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 4: “Pittsburgh–The Allegheny river, fed by heavy rains and melting snow, reached a stage of 19.8 feet at the ‘point’ before beginning to fall. Flood stage is 25 feet.” (Indiana Evening Gazette, PA. “Overnight Briefs.” 1-4-1937, p. 6.)
Jan 10: “Pittsburgh, Jan. 10. — (AP) — The United States weather bureau predicted a stage of from 22 to 23 feet — two to three feet below flood stage — tomorrow morning at the downtown confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers. The stage tonight was over 19 feet….” (Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “County Streams at Flood Stage. Heavy Rainfall.” 1-11-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 11: “`Spring freshets’ arriving from two to three months early have swollen local streams to near flood stage and sent the waters of the Monongahela river over the lock walls at Brownsville,[151] blocking river traffic….
“As yet the low spots in Uniontown have not been reached by water overflowing the banks of Redstone Creek and Coal Lick Run but in some outlying districts cellars were flooded and considerable of the surrounding area was several inches under water late Sunday night….
“U.S. Government employes at the lockhouse in Brownsville reported early last night that all ferries across the Monongahela were closed down and water at the lock was rising at the rate of from to four to five tenths of a foot per hour.” (Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “County Streams at Flood Stage. Heavy Rainfall.” 1-11-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 15: “…after a night of storms which unroofed houses, sent streams over their banks….The Allegheny River threatened to climb to flood stage at Pittsburgh. Heavy rains sent tributary streams over their banks.
“Titusville reported the Allegheny eight inches below flood stage and rising.
“Oil City rivermen said only cold weather would keep the stream from flood stage in the Venango region. Backwater from the Allegheny threatened the lower business district.
“With temperatures up around the 60’s farmers continued to plow, housewives planted bulbs and the markets displayed dandelions, rhubarb and other things weeks ahead of time.” (Assoc. Press. “Cold Tonight Forecast Against Flood Threats.” Record-Argus, Greenville PA, 1-15-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 16: “Pittsburgh, Jan. 16–Another flood scare had passed today after the rain-swollen Allegheny river had risen to within fractions of the 25 foot flood stage mark. It’s 300 mile watershed soaked by continuous 36 hours of rain, the Allegheny reached its crest at 8 o’clock this morning. Weather Bureau officials said the crest was 24.8 and there was no danger of it going higher. Upriver reports indicated the streams were falling. The Monongahela was not affected by the rain.” (Int. News Service. “Flood Scare at Pittsburgh Ends.” 1-16-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 18: “….Connellsville, Pa., Jan 18.–(UP)–The Monongahela River, spilling its banks and still rising tonight submerged highway route 711 under two and one-half feet of water between Belle Vernon and Connellsville, the Highway Department reported. The road was closed at 6:30 P.M. and a ‘good’ detour provided. No property damage was reported. The river will begin receding early tomorrow morning, officials believed.” (United Press. “Populace Moves From Lowlands; Think Crest Near.” Dubois Morning Courier, PA, 1-19-1937, p. 7.)
Jan 18: “Johnstown, Jan 18–(AP)–Residents of the ‘Flood City’ retired tonight breathing easier, after learning the treacherous Conemaugh river had reached its crest and had begun to recede after a steady rain of 72 hours halted. The weather bureau observer reported a crest of 8.9 feet was reached before 6 p.m., and by 9 the river had lowered below 8 feet. The normal depth is about four feet and water begins to back into basements of downtown buildings at 11 or 12 feet. The temperature dropped ten degrees to 40 and skies cleared tonight. During the day the Clearfield creek in northern Cambria county, which empties into the Susquehanna, was level with its banks, as was Mill creek at Ligonier.” (Associated Press. “Johnstown Easier as Rivers Recede.” Somerset Daily American, PA, 1-19-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 21: “Pittsburgh, Jan. 21–(AP)–River residents of the upper Ohio watershed prepared today for the highest water since last year’s disastrous March floods, as Weather Forecaster W. S. Brotzman predicted a level in Pittsburgh six feet beyond the 25-foot flood state.
“Pittsburgh, Jan. 21–(AP)–Rivers in Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia headed back toward flood stage today, fed by heavy rains and snow in the mountains. The Monongahela and Allegheny at their confluence in Pittsburgh climbed nearly a foot during the night to a stage of 23.6 feet. Upstream on both rivers heavy rains fell during the night, with precipitation estimated unofficially as high as 1.6 inches in the Johnstown district….” (Associated Press. “Rivers Rising Near Flood State.” The Record-Argus, Greenville, PA, 1-21-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 22: “Johnstown, Jan. 22–(AP)– Stonycreek river receded slightly tonight but concerned residents, fearing persistent rains will send it to flood level again, moved to higher ground. The river swelled to the 12-foot flood stage in the early afternoon but dropped to 11:15 feet, then held stationary. Hard rains fell on the entire watershed, causing Robert Tross, government weather observer, to predict the river would rise during the night, possibly to 14 feet. Backwater ebbed into low-lying streets and basements during the day….A one-inch rainfall fed the rivers last night, sending them up .4 of a foot an hour until they reached the 12-foot crest this afternoon at the Point, where the Stonycreek and Little Conemaugh rivers join to form the Conemaugh….” (Associated Press. “Stony Creek Rises to 12 Ft. in Johnstown.” Somerset Daily American, PA. 1-23-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 25: “Pittsburgh, Jan. 25.–(AP)–Pittsburgh’s three big rivers threatened today to climb to 35 feet above flood stage. Rains pelted down all along the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers which meet in Pittsburgh to form the Ohio. W. S. Brotzman, U.S. weather observer, said the predicted stage of 35 feet probably would be reached ‘between midnight and tomorrow morning. At 9 a.m., the streams, climbing three-tenths of a foot an hour, had reached 30.3 feet. A 35-foot state would flood some parts of the Pittsburgh business section, and into thousands of homes in low-lying residential districts. Last week with only 33 feet of flood waters, river front streets of the ‘Golden Triangle’ were flooded but business was not interrupted. In the ‘bottoms’ of McKees Rocks, where many died in disastrous floods last March, the predicted stage again would drive the residents from their homes. Many have been living in relief quarters since high waters swept into the district last Friday.
“Similar conditions prevail in Sharpsburg, another lowland industrial suburb and in Etna, where floods and flames killed several persons in 1936.” (Associated Press. “Pittsburgh’s Menace Grows.” Indiana Evening Gazette, PA, 1-25-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 26: “Pittsburgh, Jan 26.–Headwaters of the Ohio receded by inches tonight from some 1,200 homes and half a dozen business streets of downtown Pittsburgh. The drop began during a day of brilliant sunshine and a sinking temperature, which the weather forecaster predicted would reach 20 degrees above zero by tomorrow. It was 49 yesterday and 36 tonight. The tide reached a crest of 34.5 feet early today, the third time it attained or surpassed the 25-foot flood stage during ten rainy days. That was the third highest mark of the century, being exceeded by last March’s 46-foot stage and 38.5 in 1907.
“Pumps cleared basements in the ‘Golden Triangle’ area and families began reoccupying their homes for the second time in three days. Officials counted three dead and placed the damage at $1,000,000 or more.
“Pittsburgh’s river patrolman of the past 14 years, Charles M. Snyder, drowned last night while Mrs. Snyder waited a few blocks away with his supper. He slipped and fell from a motorboat. Before his companion could reach him with a lifeline he had been swept far down the Allegheny. Snyder was credited officially with having recovered 280 bodies from the three rivers in Pittsburgh, and comrades said he had saved hundreds from drowning.
“The others dead were an unidentified man and Albert Johnson, 36, of suburban Rochester.” (AP. “Damage Placed at Million in Pittsburgh’s Latest Flood.” Titusville Herald, PA, 1-27-1937, 1.)
Jan 26: “Sharpsburg — An order to ‘shoot to kill’ all looters went to policemen patrolling this Allegheny River town. Burgess Dennis Casper swore in additional officers to serve during flood emergencies.” (AP. “Pennsylvania Floodbriefs.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.)
Tennessee
Jan 16: “Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 16 (AP) — Rampaging rivers, gorged with rain and melting snow, spread tawny fingers over thousands of fertile acres today, forcing hundreds of families to seek higher land. The burdened St. Francis and Black rivers burst confining levees and spread muddy waters over large areas in southeast Missouri and eastern Arkansas.” (AP. “Melting Snow, Rain Brings Flood Threat.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-16-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 21: Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 21 (AP) — United States engineers strengthened their forces today for a battle with what one meteorologist said may be the highest known flood stages of the Mississippi river since the 1927 disaster. The engineers expressed confidence the gigantic levee system, erected by the government after 1927, will hold against the on-rushing wasters in its first ‘acid test’. The big stream went nearly a foot above technical 34-foot flood level here today. The levee system is build to withstand a stage of from 45 to 50 feet on the Memphis gauge….all concerned agreed that a fight was in store.” (Fayetteville Daily Democrat, Fayetteville, AR. “Many Streams Are Out of Banks.” 1-21-1937, p. 1.)
Jan 26: “Memphis, Tenn. — ‘Super flood is on its way,’ warns Lieut. Col. Reybold, district chief of U.S. army engineers, as Mississippi and tributaries cover 1,000,000 acres in Mississippi river basin. Memphis stage hits 42 feet, eight above flood level, with 55 predicted. Refugees on move in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi.” (Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.)
Jan 27: “Memphis. – Prediction of a ‘super-flood’ on lower Mississippi river sent emergency crews out to heighten levees.” (Associated Press. “Flood Situation at a Glance,” 1-27-1937.)
Feb 1: “Memphis, Tenn., Feb 1. — The Mississippi river reached a record of 47.8 at Memphis today, 1.2 feet higher than recorded in the great overflow of 1913….” (Altoona Mirror, PA. “100,000 Men Fighting Mississippi Flood.” 2-1-1937, p. 1.)
West Virginia
Casto: “In January 1937, the Ohio Valley was visited by its worst disaster ever-–a flood that drove a million people from their homes, claimed nearly 400 lives, and caused $500 million in damages. No West Virginia community along the Ohio escaped the flood’s ravages….
“Wheeling had experienced its worst flood in March 1936 when the Ohio River crested at a record 55.2 feet, more than 15 feet above flood stage. During the 1937 flood, the river rose two inches an hour, cresting at nearly 47 feet. The water soon covered much of the city. As happened in 1936, Wheeling Island was submerged and authorities ordered its 10,000 inhabitants evacuated.
“At Parkersburg on January 26, the 1937 flood crested at 55.4 feet, 19.4 feet above flood stage, but citizens mostly took it in stride. At City Hall, the police and fire departments continued operating, even though the only way to get to and from the building was by boat.
“On January 28, the Ohio River at Huntington reached 69.45 feet, more than 19 feet above flood stage. It inundated most of the city’s downtown and forced thousands of residents from their homes. Relief centers in churches and schools fed as many as 9,000 people a day. By the time the water receded, five people were dead, and the city was in ruins….” (Casto, James E. “Flood of 1937.” e-WV (The West Virginia Encyclopedia), 12-21-2012 revision.)
Sources
Altoona Mirror, PA. “100,000 Men Fighting Mississippi Flood.” 2-1-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/altoona/altoona-mirror/1937/02-01?tag
Altoona Mirror (Harris Coates), PA. “Crest of Flood Pounds at Cairo.” 2-3-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-4-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/altoona/altoona-mirror/1937/02-03/page-2?tag
American National Red Cross. New York-New England Hurricane and Floods — 1938 (Official Report of Relief Operations). Washington, DC: ARC, Oct. 1939.
Associated Press. “7 Bodies of Flood Victims Found in Paducah.” Monitor-Index and Democrat, Moberly, MO. 2-15-1937, p. 4. Accessed 12-10-2016.
Associated Press. “31 Levee Workers Missing.” Moberly Monitor-Index, MO, 2-1-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/moberly-monitor-index-feb-01-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “42 Dead in Missouri-Arkansas Flood; 116,000 Are Homeless.” Joplin Globe, MO, 1-29-1937, p. 5. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe-jan-29-1937-p-5/
Associated Press. “68 Known Dead in Ten States; Loss Unknown.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-25-1937. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/01-25/page-5?tag
Associated Press. “125 Are Believed Marooned In S.E. Missouri Spillway.” Joplin Globe, MO, 1-28-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe-jan-28-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “80,000 Are Homeless Along River Fronts.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, MO, 1-22-1937, p. 2. Accessed 10-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jefferson-city-post-tribune-jan-22-1937-p-2/
Associated Press. “100,000 Already Homeless in What May be Southland’s Greatest Flood.” Hamilton Daily News Journal, OH, 1-26-1937, p. 3. Accessed 10-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hamilton-daily-news-journal-jan-26-1937-p-3/
Associated Press. “Arkansas City Gauge Remains at 53.8 Today. Six More Deaths Among Arkansas Refugees Reported.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 2-15-1937, p. 6. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/02-15/page-6?tag
Associated Press. “Arkansas Woman Refugee Dies of Pneumonia Friday,” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-13-1937, p. 4. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times/1937/02-13/page-4?tag
Associated Press. “Barge Disaster Probe Closed.” Moberly Monitor Index, MO, 2-9-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/moberly-monitor-index-feb-09-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jefferson-city-post-tribune-feb-08-1937-p-2/
Associated Press. “Boat Crews Rescue Flood Refugees.” Joplin Globe, MO, 1-24-1937, p. 3. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe-jan-24-1937-p-3/
Associated Press. “Bright Spots in Arkansas’ Flood Picture.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, Fayetteville, AR, 1-29-1937, pp. 1 & 6. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/01-29/page-4?tag
Associated Press. “Bulletins.” The Camden News, Camden, AR. 1-22-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-news/1937/01-22?tag=flood
Associated Press. “Cairo Awaits River’s Worst.” Bradford Era, Bradford, PA. 1-28-1937, p. 1.
Accessed 12-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/bradford/bradford-era/1937/01-28?tag
Associated Press. “Cincinnati in Worst Flood in Its History.” Somerset Daily American, PA, 1-23-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-daily-american-jan-23-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Cold Tonight Forecast Against Flood Threats.” Record-Argus, Greenville PA, 1-15-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-24-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/greenville-record-argus-jan-15-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Conditions in Flooded Areas.” Joplin Globe, MO, 22-1937, p. 2. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe-feb-02-1937-p-2/
Associated Press. “Damage Placed at Million In Pittsburgh’s Latest Flood.” Titusville Herald, PA, 1-27-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald-jan-27-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Death Toll Mounts.” Sedalia Democrat, MO, 1-24-1937, p. 2. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sedalia-democrat-jan-24-1937-p-2/
Associated Press. “Death Toll Mounts.” Kingsport Times, Kingsport, TN, 2-15-1937, p. 5. Accessed 12-11-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/tennessee/kingsport/kingsport-times/1937/02-15/page-5?tag
Associated Press. “Disease Rife in Flood Wake.” Bradford Era, Bradford, PA. 1-28-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/bradford/bradford-era/1937/01-28?tag
Associated Press. “Disease Takes Heavy Toll In Flood Area.” Joplin Globe, MO, 2-13-1937, p. 2. Accessed 10-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe-feb-13-1937-p-2/
Associated Press. “Dykstra Plans ‘Disaster Code.” Portsmouth Times, OH, 1-17-1937, p. 19. Accessed 9-28-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portsmouth-times-jan-17-1937-p-40/
Associated Press. “Engineers to Dynamite Near Cairo, Illinois.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-25-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/01-25/page-5?tag
Associated Press. “Entire Town Under Water With 4 Dead.” Sunday Times-Signal, Zanesville, OH, 1-24-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-29-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/zanesville-signal-jan-24-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Fear Races Down the Mississippi.” Index and Democrat, Moberly, MO, 1-25-1937, p. 4. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/moberly-monitor-index-jan-25-1937-p-4/
Associated Press. “Flood Crest of 80 Feet Predicted.” Piqua Daily Call, OH, 1-25-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-29-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/piqua-daily-call-jan-24-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million. 111 Known Dead as Rampage of Ohio Continues.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-26-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times/1937/01-26?tag
Associated Press. “Flood Deaths Rise to 293…” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-28-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times/1937/01-28?tag=flood
Associated Press. “Flood Facts.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2. Accessed 12-1-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/indiana/indiana-evening-gazette/1937/01-26/page-2?tag
Associated Press. “Flood Facts At Glance.” Camden News, Camden, AR, 2-3-1937, p. 6. col. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-news/1937/02-03/page-6?tag
Associated Press. “Flood Indirect Cause of Death of Arkansas Boy.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-25-1937., p. 5. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/01-25/page-5?tag
Associated Press. “Flood Summary.” Camden Times, Camden, AR, 1-28-1937, p. 6. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-times/1937/01-28/page-8?tag
Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2. Accessed 12-1-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/indiana/indiana-evening-gazette/1937/01-26/page-2?tag
Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport, PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/williamsport/gazette-and-bulletin/1937/01-29/page-10?tag
Associated Press. “Floods by States and Cities.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2. Accessed 12-1-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/indiana/indiana-evening-gazette/1937/01-26/page-2?tag
Associated Press. “Food and Water Shortage in Flood Bound Cities Increases Suffering.” Sunday Times-Signal, Zanesville, OH. 1-24-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-29-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/zanesville-signal-jan-24-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Hundreds Flee From Rising Waters.” Somerset Daily American, PA. 1-19-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-daily-american-jan-19-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Indiana Hard Hit.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 1-21-1937, p. 6. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times/1937/01-21/page-6?tag
Associated Press. “Indiana Man Loses Life in Flood.” Logansport Press, IN, 1-17-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-9-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/indiana/logansport/logansport-press/1937/01-17?tag
Associated Press. “Johnstown Easier as Rivers Recede.” Somerset Daily American, PA, 1-19-1937, p. 2. Accessed 9-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-daily-american-jan-19-1937-p-2/
Associated Press. “Known Dead From Floods at 137 Today.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 1-27-1937, p. 1, col. 8. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/01-27?tag
Associated Press. “Lebanon Man Drowns.” Daily News-Journal, Wilmington, OH, 1-25-1937, p. 2. Accessed 10-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wilmington-news-journal-jan-25-1937-p-2/
Associated Press. “Little Danger of Flood In Ohio Valley.” Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH, 1-12-1937, p. 8. Accessed 9-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/zanesville-times-recorder-jan-12-1937-p-8/
Associated Press. “Long Siege of Flood Waters Is Predicted.” Lime News, OH, 1-20-1937, p. 12. Accessed 9-28-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lima-news-jan-20-1937-p-12/
Associated Press, Louisville. “Louisville’s Flood Loss Figures Grow; River Drops Slowly.” Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport, PA, 2-1-1937, p. 2. Accessed 12-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/williamsport/gazette-and-bulletin/1937/02-01/page-2?tag
Associated Press. “Melting Snow, Rain Brings Flood Threat.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, Fayetteville, AR, 1-16-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/01-16?tag
Associated Press. “Mississippi Begins Fall Near Helena.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-12-1937, p. 8. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times/1937/02-12/page-8?tag
Associated Press. “Mississippi Waters Start Slow Recession.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-11-1937, pp. 1 & 6. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/02-11/page-6?tag
Associated Press. “More Than Score Are Dead…” Helena Independent, 1-24-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-29-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/helena-independent-jan-24-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Mounting Death Toll In Floods Passes 130.” Titusville Herald, PA, 1-27-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald-jan-27-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Much Water Still Behind Flood Crest.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, 2-6-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times/1937/02-06?tag
Associated Press. “Nearly 80,000 Homeless And Damage Mounts High In Middle West Floods.” The Titusville Herald, PA, 1-22-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald-jan-22-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “New Rains Swell Glutted Streams in Ohio Valley.” Bluefield Daily Telegraph, WV, 1-19-1937. Accessed 9-22-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bluefield-daily-telegraph-jan-19-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Ohio River Again Threatens Cairo. Break Floods 20,000 Acres in Tennessee.” Bradford Era, Bradford, PA, 2-1-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/bradford/bradford-era/1937/02-01?tag
Associated Press. “Ohio Valley Threatened With Flood.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-22-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/01-22?tag
Associated Press. “Pennsylvania Floodbriefs.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2. Accessed 12-1-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/indiana/indiana-evening-gazette/1937/01-26/page-2?tag
Associated Press. “Pittsburgh’s Menace Grows.” Indiana Evening Gazette, PA, 1-25-1937, p. 2. Accessed 9-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indiana-evening-gazette-jan-25-1937-p-2/
Associated Press. “President Calls for Aid for Relief of Suffering.” Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO, 1-23-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jefferson-city-daily-capital-news-jan-23-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Refugees Stricken With Scarlet Fever.” Sunday Times-Signal, Zanesville, OH, 1-24-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-29-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/zanesville-signal-jan-24-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Report 75,000 Homeless in Area of Cincinnati.” Sunday Times-Signal, Zanesville, OH, 1-24-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-29-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/zanesville-signal-jan-24-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Rescue Barge Capsizes in Paducah, KY., 14 Persons Drown,” Hamilton Daily News Journal, OH, 1-26-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hamilton-daily-news-journal-jan-26-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “River Barge Death Toll Reaches to 26.” Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO, 2-10-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jefferson-city-daily-capital-news-feb-10-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “River Falling at Cincinnati.” Bradford Era, Bradford, PA. 1-28-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/bradford/bradford-era/1937/01-28?tag
Associated Press. “Rivers Rising Near Flood State.” The Record-Argus, Greenville, PA, 1-21-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/greenville-record-argus-jan-21-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Shoot Plunderers on Sight is Order of Kentucky Judge.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-25-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/01-25/page-5?tag
Associated Press. “Sixteen Dead From Floods in Midwest.” Somerset Daily American, PA, 1-23-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-daily-american-jan-23-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “S.E. Missouri Flood Relief Crews Handicapped by Cold.” Joplin News Herald, MO. 1-25-1937, p. 5. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-news-herald-jan-25-1937-p-5/
Associated Press. “Southern Floods.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2. Accessed 12-1-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/indiana/indiana-evening-gazette/1937/01-26/page-2?tag
Associated Press. “Southeast Fears Floods.” Sunday News and Tribune, Jefferson City, MO, 1-10-1937, p. 5. Accessed 10-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jefferson-city-news-and-tribune-jan-10-1937-p-5/
Associated Press. “Status of Flood Damage in Brief.” Joplin Globe, 1-28-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe-jan-28-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Stony Creek Rises to 12 Ft. in Johnstown.” Somerset Daily American, PA. 1-23-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-daily-american-jan-23-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Streams Rise and Inundate Ohio Highways.” Zanesville Signal, OH, 1-14-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/zanesville-signal-jan-14-1937-p-1/
Associated Press. “Strengthen Levees Below Cairo; Death List at Louisville Grows.” Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport, PA, 1-29-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-2-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/williamsport/gazette-and-bulletin/1937/01-29/page-10?tag
Associated Press. “Thieves Are Sought.” Joplin Globe, MO, 1-31-1937, p. 4. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe-jan-31-1937-p-4/
Associated Press. “Three Deaths are Attributed Direct to State Waters…” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-25-1937, p. 1, col. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-daily-democrat/1937/01-25/page-5?tag
Associated Press. “Three Killed, Many Injured After Storms.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-22-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times/1937/02-22?tag
Associated Press. “Worker Electrocuted,” Daily News-Journal, Wilmington, OH, 1-25-1937. Accessed 10-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wilmington-news-journal-jan-25-1937-p-2/
Associated Press. “Zanesville In Peril,” Daily News Journal, Wilmington, OH, 1-25-1937, p. 2.
Accessed 10-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wilmington-news-journal-jan-25-1937-p-2/
Athens Messenger, OH. “112,000 Homeless; Property Loss Mounting to Millions; Portsmouth Wall Threatened.” 1-22-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-28-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/athens-messenger-jan-22-1937-p-1/
Bell, Rick. The Great Flood of 1937: Rising Waters, Soaring Spirits. Louisville, Kentucky. Butler Books, 2007.
Blytheville Courier News, Blytheville, AR. “350 Refugees Left at Manila [AR],” 1-30-1937, p. 3. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/blytheville/blytheville-courier-news/1937/01-30/page-3?tag
Blytheville Courier News, AR. “Body of Baby Flood Victim Is Recovered.” 2-19-1937, p. 3. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/blytheville/blytheville-courier-news/1937/02-19/page-3?tag
Blytheville Courier News, AR. “Death Claims Tomato Refugee.” 2-6-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/blytheville/blytheville-courier-news/1937/02-06?tag
Brady, Lilia F. “Historic Disasters.” Cincinnati Magazine, Feb 1982. p. 104. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=dB0DAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Brookfield Argus, MO. “Five Bodies Found,” 2-2-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brookfield-argus-feb-02-1937-p-1/
Brookfield Argus, MO. “Mississippi River’s Great Levee System Standing the Test,” 1-30-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brookfield-argus-jan-30-1937-p-1/
Burns, Judith E. “Culver Military Academy Helps in 1937 Flood Rescue.” Lake Maxinkuckee: Its Intrigue, History & Genealogy, Culver, Marshall, Indiana. Accessed 12-8-2016 at: http://www.maxinkuckee.history.pasttracker.com/cef_cma_1937_flood_rescue/1937_flood_rescue.htm
Burt, Christopher C. and Mark Stroud. Extreme Weather: A Guide & Record Book. W. W. Norton & Co., 2004, 304 pages. Google preview accessed 1-1-2014 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=NuP7ATq9nWgC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Camden News, Camden, AR. “Flood In Brief,” 2-5-1937, p. 2, col. 4. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-news/1937/02-05/page-2?tag=flood
Camden News, Camden, AR. “River Crest May Exceed 34.” 1-20-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-news/1937/01-20?tag=flood
Camden News, Camden AR. “River Lowlands Flooded.” 1-12-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-news/1937/01-12?tag
Camden News, Camden, AR. “River Reaches New High Mark.” 1-18-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-news/1937/01-18?tag
Camden Times, Camden, AR. “River Due to Reach 32 Feet.” 1-14-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-times/1937/01-14?tag
Casto, James E. “Flood of 1937.” e-WV (The West Virginia Encyclopedia), 12-21-2012 revision. Accessed 9-22-2019 at: https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/2372
Casto, James E. The Great Ohio River Flood of 1937. Charleston SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2009.
Charleroi Mail, Charleroi, PA. “Related Flood Victim.” 20401937, p. 3. Accessed 12-4-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/charleroi/charleroi-mail/1937/02-04/page-3?tag
Childress, Morton O. Sr. Louisville Division of Police, 1806-2002. “Disasters.” Turner (publisher), 2005, 93. Partially Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=qPa5vHU470YC&printsec=frontcover&vq=bridge#v=onepage&q=bridge&f=false
Daily Cosmos-Monitor, MO. “Barge Death Toll Mounts.” 2-3-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/saint-charles-daily-cosmos-monitor-feb-03-1937-p-1/
Daily News-Journal, Wilmington, OH. “Ohio Valley Flood Flashes. Four Men Drown.” 1-25-1937, p. 2. Accessed 10-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wilmington-news-journal-jan-25-1937-p-2/
Davies, Richard. “The Ohio River Flood 1937.” FloodList.com. 4-11-2013. Accessed 12-8-2016 at: http://floodlist.com/america/usa/ohio-river-flood-1937
Davis, Rich. “80 years ago, river flood consumed Evansville.” Courier & Press, Evansville, IN, 1-28-2017. Accessed 9-22-2019 at: https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/local/2017/01/28/80-years-ago-river-flood-consumed-evansville/97039764/
Dubois Courier, PA. “78 Dead, Martial Law Rules, Worst Flood In History.” 1-26-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dubois-courier-jan-26-1937-p-1/
Epic Disasters. “The Deadliest US Floods.” Accessed 12-1-2016 at: http://epicdisasters.com/the-deadliest-us-floods/
Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “68 Known Dead,” 1-25-1937, p. 6. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times/1937/01-25/page-6?tag
Fayetteville Daily Democrat, Fayetteville, AR. “Many Streams Are Out of Banks.” 1-21-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times/1937/01-21/page-6?tag
Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “U.S. Flood.” 2-1-1937. p. 3. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/fayetteville/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times/1937/02-01/page-3?tag
Geological Survey. Floods of Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, January-February 1937 (Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 838). Washington, DC: Geological Survey, U.S. Dept. of the Interior (in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works), U.S. GPO, 1938, 790 pages. Accessed 12-9-2016 at: https://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/0838/report.pdf
Hamilton Daily News Journal, OH. “Flood Facts.” 1-26-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hamilton-daily-news-journal-jan-26-1937-p-1/
Harrison Daily Times. AR. “Crest of Flood Passes Memphis.” 2-9-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/harrison/harrison-daily-times/1937/02-09?tag
Harrison Daily Times, AR. “Levees Holding on Mississippi as Crest Hits.” 2-5-1937, p.1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/harrison/harrison-daily-times/1937/02-05?tag
Harrison Daily Times, AR. “Mississippi May Rise 10 Feet Over Present Record.” 1-26-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/harrison/harrison-daily-times/1937/01-26?tag
Harrison Daily Times, AR. “More Dikes go Out Adding to Flood Ravages.” 1-23-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/harrison/harrison-daily-times/1937/01-23?tag
Harrison Daily Times, AR. “State Flood Toll of Dead Mounts to 12.” 1-26-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/harrison/harrison-daily-times/1937/01-26?tag
Havern, Christopher (Coast Guard Historian’s Office). “The Great Ohio, Mississippi River Valley Flood of 1937,” Coast Guard Compass (Official Blog of the U.S. Coast Guard), 6-4-2011. Accessed 12-9-2016 at: http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2011/06/the-great-ohio-mississippi-river-valley-flood-of-1937/
Indiana Evening Gazette, PA. “Overnight Briefs.” 1-4-1937, p. 6. Accessed 9-24-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indiana-evening-gazette-jan-04-1937-p-6/
Indiana Evening Gazette, PA. “Rain Raises Creeks…” 1-2-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-24-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indiana-evening-gazette-jan-02-1937-p-1/
International News Service. “Flood Scare at Pittsburgh Ends.” 1-16-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-24-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-castle-news-jan-16-1937-p-1/
International News Service. “Waters Receding at Louisville, Ky.” New Castle News, New Castle, PA, 2-2-2016. Accessed 12-4-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/new-castle/new-castle-news/1937/02-02?tag
Kittle, M.D. “‘New and strange terrors’: More than 70 years ago, Birds Point levee was breached because of icy winter flood.” 5-11-2011, Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, MO. Accessed 12-4-2016 at: http://www.semissourian.com/story/1725564.html
LeMay, Jason (Compiler). The Kentucky National Guard’s Response to the Great Flood of 1937. Accessed 12-1-2017 at: http://kynghistory.ky.gov/Media/Publications/Documents/KYNGintheGreatFloodof1937Pt1.pdf
Lima News, OH. “Young Ada Girl Drowned.” 1-24-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-1-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lima-news-jan-24-1937-p-1/
LouisvilleKy.gov. Louisville Fire Department History, 1856-1980. Accessed 4-19-2009 at: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/louisvillefire/lfd_history_full_text.htm
Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.
Mann, David A. “75 years later: Remembering the 1937 flood.” News and Tribune, Jeffersonville, IN, 1-30-2012. Accessed 9-22-2019 at: https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/years-later-remembering-the-flood/article_a3615bb2-362e-5356-aa1c-962185a495e1.html
Mansfield News-Journal, OH. “Flood Loss $20,000 in County.” 1-15-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/mansfield-news-journal-jan-15-1937-p-1/
Mitchell, Dawn. “Retro Indy: Ohio River flood of 1937.” 1-25-2016, Indystar.com. Accessed 12-8-2016 at: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/01/24/retro-indy-ohio-river-flood-1937/79163578/
Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “125 Dead, 550,000 Homeless In Flood Areas,” January 27, 1927, p. 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=85193151
Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “County Streams at Flood Stage. Heavy Rainfall.” 1-11-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-1-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/uniontown/uniontown-morning-herald/1937/01-11?tag
National Fire Protection Association. “The Ohio River Flood.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 30, No. 4, April 1937, pp. 322-345.
National Weather Service. Flooding in Arkansas. “The Ohio-Mississippi Valley Flood of 1937.” Accessed 9-14-2019 at: https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-states-ar
National Weather Service, Louisville, KY, Weather Forecast Office. The Great Flood of 1937. Accessed 9-14-2019 at: https://www.weather.gov/lmk/flood_37
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Louisville, KY. Top 25 Weather Events of All-Time in Central Kentucky and Southern Indiana. “1. The Great Flood. January-February, 1937.”[152] 3-4-2010 update accessed at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=top_20_weather_events
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Louisville, KY. Top Ten Flood Events. “1. Great Flood. January – February, 1937.”[153] Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://www.weather.gov/lmk/toptenfloodevents
Osborne, Tom. “The 1937 Flood in Paducah.” Teamneon.com. Accessed 9-19-2019 at: http://teamneon.com/sites/paducahflood/1937/
Piqua Daily Call, OH. “Water Famine.” 1-25-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-29-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/piqua-daily-call-jan-24-1937-p-2/
Portsmouth Times, OH. “Louisville’s toll in Flood is Fixed at 90.” 2-27-1937, p. 1. Accessed at newspaperarchive.com, 12-11-2016.
Portsmouth Times, OH. “Streams Cover Roads After Heavy Rains.” 1-11-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2019 at newspaperarchive.com.
Portsmouthinfo.net. 1937 Portsmouth, Ohio Flood. Accessed 12-9-2016 at: http://www.portsmouthinfo.net/1937-flood.html
Rickey, Lisa Pasquinelli. Remembering the 1937 Flood (webpage). Accessed 12-9-2016 at: https://lisarickey.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/remembering-the-1937-flood/
Sander, David and Glen Conner. “Fact Sheet: Ohio River Floods.” Western Kentucky University, Kentucky Climate Center. Accessed 12-8-2016 at: https://web.archive.org/web/20080604134934/http://kyclim.wku.edu/factSheets/ohioRiver.htm
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
Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/benton-scott-county-democrat-feb-04-1937-p-1/
Sikeston Standard, MO. “20 Bodies Recovered From Spillway Water; 19 Men Still Missing.” 2-5-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sikeston-standard-feb-05-1937-p-1/
Sikeston Standard, MO. “Highlights of Coroner’s Inquest in Spillway Barge Drownings.” 2-12-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sikeston-standard-feb-12-1937-p-1/
Spurgeon, John. “Flood of 1937.” The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, 2-10-2012 update. Accessed 12-1-2016 at: http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=4878
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Tim O’Neil). “The misery was even worse in 1937, the first time levee was breached.” 5-4-2011. Accessed 12-9-2016 at: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/the-misery-was-even-worse-in-the-first-time-levee/article_9101b083-de7a-5009-ad99-9b0409396a05.html
The Enquirer. “Infamous Floods – Flood of ’97.” At: http://www.enquirer.com/flood_of_97/history5.html
United Press. “8 Known Dead in Ohio Flood; Bad in Other States.” Chester Times, PA, 1-20-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chester-times-jan-20-1937-p-1/
United Press (Valco Lyle). “10,000 Made Homeless By Flood Waters.” Camden News, AR, 1-22-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-news/1937/01-22?tag=flood+river
United Press. “Armies Rush Work in Flood Area; 306 Dead.” Dubois Courier, PA. 1-30-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-3-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/dubois/dubois-courier/1937/01-30/page-8?tag
United Press. “Cairo, Illinois, Is Surrounded Today By Raging Waters.” Brookfield Argus, MO, 1-30-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-26-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brookfield-argus-jan-30-1937-p-1/
United Press. “City’s Death Toll Estimates Made.” Ogden Standard Examiner, UT. 2-28-1937, p. 2-A. Accessed 12-11-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/utah/ogden/ogden-standard-examiner/1937/02-28/page-2?tag
United Press. “Flood Dead At 109 Despite Rescue Army.” Dubois Courier, PA, 1-27-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dubois-courier-jan-27-1937-p-1/
United Press. “Floods Worst In 24 Years.” Athens Messenger, OH, 1-22-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-28-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/athens-messenger-jan-22-1937-p-1/
United Press. “Mayor Miller Sets Example.” Camden News, AR, 2-12-1937, p. 6. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-times/1937/02-18/page-6?tag
United Press. “Nation Musters Rescue Forces to Aid Refugees.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, MO, 1-10-1937, p. 2. Accessed 10-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/jefferson-city-post-tribune-jan-20-1937-p-2/
United Press. “Ohio Cities Believe Flood Crest Is Near.” Van Wert Times-Bulletin, 1-23-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-28-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/van-wert-times-bulletin-jan-23-1937-p-1/
United Press. “Populace Moves From Lowlands; Think Crest Near.” Dubois Morning Courier, PA, 1-19-1937, p. 7. Accessed 9-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dubois-courier-jan-19-1937-p-7/
United Press. “Rain Brings New Terror of Floods.” Altoona Mirror, PA, 1-18-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-24-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/altoona-mirror-jan-18-1937-p-1/
United Press. “Rescue Workers Drown In River.” Blytheville Courier News, AR, 2-10-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/blytheville/blytheville-courier-news/1937/02-10?tag
United Press. “Trooper Is Victim Of Sudden Fire.” The Camden News, AR, 2-9-1937, p. 1. Accessed 12-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/arkansas/camden/camden-news/1937/02-09?tag
United Press. “Water Engulfs Entire Family.” Van Wert Times-Bulletin, OH, 1-23-1937, p. 1. Accessed 9-28-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/van-wert-times-bulletin-jan-23-1937-p-1/
United Press. “Weather Condition; Eight Deaths Result Indirectly from the Severe Weather.” Brookfield Argus, MO, 1-30-1937, p. 1. Accessed 10-25-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brookfield-argus-jan-30-1937-p-1/
Valley Morning Star, Harlingen TX. “Floods Halt War Factory,” May 27, 1943, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=16343249
Wikipedia. “Ohio River Flood of 1937.” At: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_River_flood_of_1937
Additional Material
American National Red Cross. The Ohio-Mississippi Valley Flood Disaster of 1937: Report of Relief Operations of the American Red Cross. Washington, DC: ARC, 1938.
Cincinnati Museum. “The Great Flood of 1937,” Ohio Valley History, Winter, 2006, pp. 60-71. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://library.cincymuseum.org/topics/f/files/1937flood/gre-060.pdf
Findsen, Owen, and Cameron McWhirter. “At nearly 80 ft., ’37 flood got many changes flowing.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, undated. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: https://www.google.com/#q=cincinnati+oh+flood+1937
Johnson, Leland R. Situation Desperate: U.S. Army Engineer Disaster Relief Operations, Origins to 1950. Alexandria, VA: Office of History, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2011, 290 pages. Accessed 12-11-2016 at: http://www.publications.usace.army.mil/Portals/76/Publications/EngineerPamphlets/EP_870-1-70.pdf
Kleber, John E. (Editor in Chief). The Kentucky Encyclopedia, “Flood of 1937,” pp. 327-328. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992. Partially digitized by Google; accessed 12-1-2016 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=CcceBgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Lilly Library, Bloomington, IN. Ohio River Flood of 1937 (webpage). Accessed 12-8-2016 at: http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/wpa/flood.html
Mtvernonin.com. “Mt. Vernon, IN — 1937 Flood.” Accessed 12-8-2016 at: http://www.mtvernonin.com/MtV1937Flood.htm
O’Daniel, Patrick. Memphis and the Super Flood of 1937 — High Water Blues. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2010. Google digital preview accessed 12-9-2016 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=NXx0CQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Ohio History Central. Ohio River Flood of 1937 (webpage). Accessed 12-9-2016 at: http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Ohio_River_Flood_of_1937
Pitt, Michael. “The Ohio River Flood of 1937.” Illinois History, Feb 2002, pp. 27-28. Accessed 12-9-2016 at: http://www.lib.niu.edu/2002/ihy020227.html
Shank, Marjorie. “The 1937 Flood in Southern Illinois.” The Journal of Geography, Vol. 37, No. 2, Feb 1938.
Strickley, Bob. “79 years ago the 1937 flood crests at 79.9 feet.” Cincinnati.com, 1-27-2016. Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/history/2016/01/26/date-1937-flood-crests-799-feet/79301880/
Swenson, Bennett. “Fivers and Floods,” Monthly Weather Review, Feb 1937, pp. 71-77.[154] Accessed 12-5-2016 at: http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/065/mwr-065-02-0071.pdf
Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, TX, “New Flood Hits Illinois Town; Three Drowned.” 2-26-1937, p. 4. Accessed 12-11-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/texas/harlingen/valley-morning-star/1937/02-26/page-4?tag
Weather.gov. The Great Flood of 1937 (webpage). Accessed 12-9-2016 at: http://www.weather.gov/media/lmk/pdf/posters/GreatFlood1937_Poster.pdf
Webley, Kayla. “Top 10 Historic U.S. Floods.” Time Magazine, 5-11-2011. Accessed 12-9-2016 at: http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2070796_2070798_2070782,00.html
Welky, David. The Thousand-Year Flood: The Ohio-Mississippi Disaster of 1937. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011.
[1] Flood waters remained in some localities into March. There were a few flooding deaths in late February. But, the great majority of fatalities noted herein are within Jan 11 and Feb 15, most in a shorter timeframe; includes illness.
[2] No sources cited. Not using in that we have not been able to corroborate this estimate with a second source.
[3] Cites Bell’s book on Louisville and the 1937 flood. Though that book and this document deal with Kentucky, it is possible this figure relates to an overall death toll. Writes: “Thousands upon thousands were displaced and by some reports 500 died, some by drowning, but most by exposure.” Highlighted in yellow to denote we do not use as the high-end of our tally — it appears to us improbable that exactly 500 people died. Appears more likely that this is a “guesstimate” which attempts to recognize the large number of lives lost due to illness, such as pneumonia, after suffering in flooding and freezing environment.
[4] Compiled in December 2016 and modified in September and October 2019 by B. Wayne Blanchard for inclusion in: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com
[5] The press at the time noted about 400 to 467 deaths. LeMay has it at 500, and perhaps, by including additional disease deaths, the total. Our own attempts to tally reported deaths by individuals and localities derives but 352-408. We choose to use our 408 number for the low-end of the estimated range and 467 reported at the time for high-end.
[6] “…Flood deaths went above 400 with three deaths at Louisville, Ky., four in Arkansas and two at Memphis.”
[7] IL/6, KY/53, OH/13,
[8] Notes in a follow-on article: Kentucky, 53; Arkansas, 18, Missouri, 14; Ohio, 13; West Virginia, 10; Tennessee, 9; Illinois, 3; Pennsylvania, 3; Indiana, 7; Mississippi, 1; and South Carolina, 1, for a total of 133.
[9] AR/18; IL/3, IN/6, KY/44, PA/3, TN/9, WV/10.
[10] AR/12, IL/3, IN/6, KY/20, MS/1, MO/11, OH/11, PA/1, SC/1, TN/9, WV/9.
[11] AR/3, IL/3, IN/6, KY/13, MO/11, MS/1, OH/11, PA/1, SC/1, TN/9, WV/9. (Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. “68 Known Dead,” 1-25-1937, p. 6.)
[12] Apparently Ohio Valley: “Louisville Kentucky was in darkness overnight, with 200,000 of its 330,000 population homeless. National guardsmen threatened to use force to carry 5,000 more from Portsmouth, OH [to east] as this area counted at least 44 flood dead.”
[13] Three in IL, 2 each in OH and WV, 1 each in KY, MO, and PA.
[14] AP, Birmingham, Feb 15. “Death Toll Mounts.” Kingsport Times, Kingsport, TN, 2-15-1937, p. 5.
[15] “Birmingham, Ala., Feb 12 — (AP). The death toll among the more than 3,000 flood refugees at Birmingham Bayview camp today mounted to six…” (AP. “Mississippi Begins Fall…” Fayetteville Democrat, 2-12-1937, p. 1.)
[16] Cites American Red Cross 1938 Report on the Flood of 1937.
[17] Notes three black men drowned, raising the total.
[18] Three others reported dead, but not confirmed. (AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, Jan 26.
[19] AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-26-1937, p. 1, col. 1.
[20] AP. “Mississippi Waters Start Slow Recession.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-11-1937, p. 6.
[21] AP. “Six More Deaths Among Arkansas Refugees Reported.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 2-15-1937, p. 6.
[22] Harrison Daily Times, AR. “State Flood Toll of Dead Mounts to 12.” 1-26-1937, p. 1.
[23] Associated Press. “Fear Races Down the Mississippi.” Index and Democrat, Moberly, MO, 1-25-1937, p. 4.
[24] AP. “Mississippi Waters Start Slow Recession.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-11-1937, p. 6.
[25] Associated Press. “Fear Races Down the Mississippi.” Index and Democrat, Moberly, MO, 1-25-1937, p. 4.
[26] AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-26-1937, p. 1, col. 1.
[27] AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-26-1937, p. 1, col. 1.
[28] AP. “Mississippi Waters Start Slow Recession.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-11-1937, p. 6.
[29] AP. “Mississippi Waters Start Slow Recession.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-11-1937, p. 6. Victim identified as Joe Valadez.
[30] Harrison Daily Times, AR. “State Flood Toll of Dead Mounts to 12.” 1-26-1937, p. 1.
[31] Spurgeon. Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. “Flood of 1937.”
[32] AP. “Arkansas City Gauge Remains at 53.8 Today. Six More Deaths Among Arkansas Refugees Reported.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 2-15-1937, p. 6. Death attributed to pneumonia.
[33] Blytheville Courier News, AR. “Body of Baby Flood Victim Is Recovered.” 2-19-1937, p. 3.
[34] AP. “Six More Deaths Among Arkansas Refugees Reported.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 2-15-1937, p. 6. Death attributed to pneumonia.
[35] AP. “Six More Deaths Among Arkansas Refugees Reported.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 2-15-1937, p. 6.
[36] AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-26-1937, p. 1, col. 1.
[37] AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-26-1937, p. 1, col. 1.
[38] Blytheville Courier News, Blytheville, AR. “350 Refugees Left at Manila [AR],” 1-30-1937, p. 3.
[39] AP. “Six More Deaths Among Arkansas Refugees Reported.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 2-15-1937, p. 6.
[40] Associated Press. “Fear Races Down the Mississippi.” Index and Democrat, Moberly, MO, 1-25-1937, p. 4.
[41] AP. “Six More Deaths Among Arkansas Refugees Reported.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 2-15-1937, p. 6.
[42] AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-26-1937, p. 1, col. 1.
[43] Harrison Daily Times, AR. “State Flood Toll of Dead Mounts to 12.” 1-26-1937, p. 1. Victims identified as Mrs. Pebble English, 19, and two-year-old daughter, Helen; Mrs. Ockley White, 23, sister of Mrs. English, and her two sons, Jimmie, 3 and John, 1. Husband of Mrs. English and male rescue boat operator were able to swim to safety.
[44] Associated Press. “100,000 Already Homeless in What May be Southland’s Greatest Flood.” Hamilton Daily News Journal, OH, 1-26-1937, p. 3.
[45] AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-26-1937, p. 1, col. 1.
[46] Blytheville Courier News, AR. “Death Claims Tomato Refugee [J.J. Robinson]” 2-6-1937, p. 1.
[47] AP. “Flood Damage Estimate to 200 Million.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 1-26-1937, p. 1, col. 1.
[48] “Memphis, Feb. 13…Mrs. Elizabeth Barnes Selby, 44 died last night of pneumonia caused by exposure in the flood zone, nearly two weeks after her husband, Miles Selby, 60, died in the same emergency hospital. They and their children were refugees from near Whitfield, Ark…” (AP. “Arkansas Woman Refugee Dies of Pneumonia Friday,” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-13-1937, p. 4.)
[49] AP. “Mississippi Waters Start Slow Recession.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-11-1937, pp. 1 & 6.
[50] Assoc. Press. “New Rains Swell Glutted Streams in Ohio Valley.” Bluefield Daily Telegraph, WV, 1-19-1937.
[51] Valley Morning Star, TX, “New Flood Hits Illinois Town; Three Drowned.” 2-26-1937, p. 4. Writes” “Three persons were drowned and 300 fled their homes when the Galena River…went on a rampage at Galena, Ill., rising from flood stage of 13 feet and attaining a crest of 27.58 feet in eight hours.”
[52] “Illinois. Known dead, 11….Mound City–Five Negro refugees drowned when motorboat capsized…” (Associated Press. “42 Dead in Missouri-Arkansas Flood; 116,000 Are Homeless.” Joplin Globe, MO, 1-29-1937, p. 5.)
[53] AP. “Known Dead From Floods at 137 Today.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 1-27-1937, p. 6.
[54] AP. “Three Killed, Many Injured After Storms.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR, 2-22-1937, p. 1.
[55] IndyStar article notes IN had no drowning fatalities, but: “That is not to say Indiana avoided deaths. Influenza, exposure and pneumonia claimed a number of lives.” (Mitchell. “Retro Indy: Ohio River flood of 1937.” Indystar.)
[56] United Press. “Floods Worst In 24 Years.” Athens Messenger, OH, 1-22-1937, p. 1.
[57] Davis, Rich. “80 years ago, river flood consumed Evansville.” Courier & Press, Evansville, IN, 1-28-2017.
[58] Assoc. Press. “New Rains Swell Glutted Streams in Ohio Valley.” Bluefield Daily Telegraph, WV, 1-19-1937.
[59] AP. “Entire Town Under Water With 4 Dead.” Sunday Times-Signal, Zanesville, OH, 1-24-1937, p. 1. “The dead, all from exposure, were: F. Carr, 70. Mr. Conrad, a tubercular. Mrs. John Cartann, 80. George Cartann, 58, her son, pneumonia. All were taken from homes in the flooded district and all but George Cartann died in hospitals.”
[60] Victim identified as Roy Dugan. AP. “Indiana Man Loses Life in Flood.” Logansport Press, IN, 1-17-1937, p. 1.
[61] We use 90 deaths for Louisville from per the Director of Health report of Feb 27, though no explanation was offered on the discrepancy between this figure and the much larger figures Mayor Miller had been using for weeks. We add the other small number of locality reports we have seen to this..
[62] “According to newspaper accounts on January 29, 1937 — Private Robert T. Mueller, Tell City, Indiana, an active duty soldier with Troop A of the 1st Mechanized Cavalry from Fort Knox, a member of the federal flood relief forces, and Louisville Patrolman Lawrence W. Claycomb were drowned when an ‘army combat car’ went out of control and plunged into the flood waters of Beargrass Creek.”
[63] AP. “President Calls for Aid for Relief of Suffering.” Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO, 1-23-1937, p. 1.
[64] Were “trying to rescue belongings threatened by rising Ohio flood waters…caught before they could flee to safety.” (United Press. “Water Engulfs Entire Family.” Van Wert Times-Bulletin, OH, 1-23-1937, p. 1.)
[65] This would be from a wide range of causes, presumably connected to conditions brought about by the widespread flooding. (UP. “City’s Death Toll Estimates Made.” Ogden Standard Examiner, UT. 2-28-1937, p. 2-A.) We highlight this account and others in yellow to denote we do not use. We accept the Director of Public Health report.
[66] “In the Ohio Valley, a costly cleanup began as in the hardest hit city in that section–Louisville–official statements that the damage in that city would be ‘terrific’ came almost simultaneously with the declaration of a hospital superintendent, Dr. J. E. Buschmeyer, that the dead there would run high above other estimates. ‘I believe,’ he said, ‘there have been 400 prepared for burial or already transferred to cemeteries in the highlands. And the real work is still ahead. A large majority of the deaths were the result of cold and exposure.’” (Brookfield Argus, MO. “Mississippi River’s Great Levee System Standing the Test,” 1-30-1937, p. 1.)
[67] Associated Press. “Disease Rife in Flood Wake.” Bradford Era, Bradford, PA. 1-28-1937, p. 1.
[68] An AP report, same date, writes Louisville City Health Officer Leavell “predicted city’s know death total of 221 would be revised upward.” (Associated Press. “Conditions in Flooded Areas.” Joplin Globe, MO, 22-1937, p. 2.)
[69] AP. “Louisville’s Flood Loss Figures Grow…” Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport, PA, 2-1-1937, p. 2.
[70] “The official figures are slightly more than 200 dead and identified and fewer than half dozen unidentified bodies or missing persons.”
[71] Cites Time Magazine. “Yellow Waters. 2-8-1937, and quotes Time to the effect that “Three-fourths of the city [Louisville], at flood crest, was inundated. Over 230,000 Louisville people were homeless, at least 200 dead, few of them by drowning, most from exposure.”
[72] “Figures on the number of displaced and the dead vary from source to source but the most conservative quoted numbers were 175,000 displaced in Louisville alone and 190 casualties not including at least two looters who were shot.” Cites article by Luther S. Horne in New York Times, 1-30-1937, p. 10.
[73] “J. Ray Barrett, Deputy coroner, said 130 bodies had been taken out of the west end. He maintained the victims had died of heart failure, exposure, and pneumonia. Barrett insisted none of these had drowned.”
[74] Drowning (6), exposure (10), burned or killed in explosions (15), asphyxiation (2), pneumonia (28), heart disease (38), dysentery (1). (Portsmouth Times, OH. “Louisville’s toll in Flood is Fixed at 90.” 2-27-1937, p. 1.)
[75] Bell 2007, p. 97.
[76] LeMay, Jason (Compiler). The Kentucky National Guard’s Response to the Great Flood of 1937, no date, p. 2. Writes that “Sergeant Thomas J. Brown of Madisonville, age 34, drowned at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 23rd while on state active duty in response to the flood of 1937…[when his] “boat…lost its stern from vibrations from an outboard motor and quickly sank by the stern throwing all four [occupants] into the nine-foot water. The other three were able to swim to shallow waters but did suffer from exposure and shock…”
[77] Associated Press. “Floods by States and Cities.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2; Daily News-Journal, Wilmington, OH. “Ohio Valley Flood Flashes. Four Men Drown.” 1-25-1937, p. 2.
[78] “Paducah, Ky., Feb 15, (AP) — Many of this city’s 35,000 people today set about clearing Ohio river flood debris from their homes, among which seven bodies of victims were found yesterday, bringing the death toll, since the river poured over 95 per cent of the city, to 51 persons. The corpses, found in bed or sprawled in chairs in their recently submerged homes, mutely depicted the relentless surge of the flood over Paducah. One man, Charles U. Parkes, 22, was found in a gutter. He lost his life last Tuesday when a boat capsized.” (Monitor-Index and Democrat, Moberly, MO. 2-15-1937, p. 4.)
[79] “Paducah, Ky. — Red Cross officials announce 14 persons drowned when rescue barge carrying refugees capsizes, throwing them into waters flowing over streets. Survivors swim to nearby buildings.”
[80] Associated Press. “Long Siege of Flood Waters Is Predicted.” Lime News, OH, 1-20-1937, p. 12.
[81] United Press. “Rescue Workers Drown In River.” Blytheville Courier News, AR, 2-10-1937, p. 1.
[82] AP. “Nearly 80,000 Homeless…Damage…High In Middle West Floods.” Titusville Herald, PA, 1-22-1937, p. 1.
[83] If one adds the 17 deaths reported in the state by the Associated Press by Jan 29, to approximately 30 deaths by drowning due to the barge capsizing on Jan 31, one gets to 47. We note in next footnote why this is conservative.
[84] Considering the underreporting of minority deaths (NAACP critical of at the time), as well as the loss of life amongst rural refugees due to exposure and illness brought on by exposure, we put this as a conservative estimate.
[85] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “The misery was even worse in 1937, the first time levee was breached.” 5-4-2011.
[86] The inquest was specifically with the death of James F. Ruffin, “but officials said it applied also to the other 23 victims whose bodies have been recovered.” Article notes that “there was no halt in the search for the bodies of six levee workers believed to have drowned in the spillway Jan. 30.”
[87] “New Madrid….Deaths in barge disaster stand at 23, with seven still missing.” (Camden News, Camden, AR. “Flood In Brief,” 2-5-1937, p. 2, col. 4.)
[88] We write approximately in that the news article writes that six bodies had been recovered and another 22 were missing and feared drowned. Source is: INS, Memphis, Feb 2. (“Twenty-Two on Barge Missing; Six Drowned.” New Castle News, PA, 2-2-1937, p. 1.) The Feb 2 (Tuesday) article notes: “The sinking of a barge in the Bird’s Point-New Madrid floodway near New Madrid, Mo., last Sunday, throwing at least 100 WPA {Works Progress Administration} into the icy waters, took a toll of at least six lives…Unofficial reports reaching here from New Madrid also asserted at least 22 other persons who were believed to have been on the barge when it suddenly capsized were still missing….Boats are dragging the huge artificial lake, created by flood waters from the swollen Ohio river, for the missing bodies…” A Feb 3 news report out of Cairo, IL noted “ten more bodies were recovered.” (Altoona Mirror (Harris Coates), PA. “Crest of Flood Pounds at Cairo.” 2-3-1937, p. 1.)
[89] Associated Press. “River Barge Death Toll Reaches to 26.” Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO, 2-10-1937, p. 1. Article notes the recovery of two more bodies. The previous day it was noted that there were six missing.
[90] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1. Writes “…five bodies [were brought] to New Madrid Monday night, ten Tuesday evening, and five more late Wednesday.”
[91] Kittle, M.D. “‘New and strange terrors’: More than 70 years ago, Birds Point levee was breached because of icy winter flood.” 5-11-2011, Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, MO. Writes: “In the days following the breach [Corps of Engineers dynamited the levee on Jan 25], the misery continued, punctuated by one of the flood’s greatest tragedies. About 25 men, all working to reinforce the levee, drowned with their barge took water and sank in the floodway. In the icy water, the men began to panic. Some tried to climb into the small motorboat pulling the barge. Men on the boat used paddles, hammers, even hatchets, reportedly, to beat the drowning men back for fear they would capsize the boat.”
[92] Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2. Notes six men still missing.
[93] Sikeston Standard, MO. “20 Bodies Recovered From Spillway Water; 19 Men Still Missing.” 2-5-1937, p. 1.
[94] Daily Cosmos-Monitor, MO. “Barge Death Toll Mounts.” 2-3-1937, p. 1.
[95] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[96] “New Madrid, Mo., Feb 2.–The bodies of five drowned levee workers were pulled out by grappling hooks late today from the flooded Mississippi River spillway, where a steel barge sank with more than 100 aboard. United States Army engineers checked feverishly to determine if approximately 30 others ‘unaccounted for’ also had perished. Jess Wilkins, assistant New Madrid County clerk, tentatively identified four of the dead by their water-soaked meal tickets…”
[97] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[98] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[99] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[100] Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2.
[101] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[102] Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2.
[103] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[104] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[105] Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2.
[106] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[107] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[108] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[109] Assoc. Press. “River Barge Death Toll Reaches to 26.” Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO, 2-10-1937, p. 1.
[110] Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2.
[111] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[112] Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2. Another report has his residence as Portageville, MO. (Sikeston Standard, MO. “Highlights of Coroner’s Inquest in Spillway Barge Drownings.” 2-12-1937, p. 1.)
[113] Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2.
[114] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[115] Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2.
[116] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[117] Brookfield Argus, MO. “Five Bodies Found,” 2-2-1937, 1.
[118] Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2.
[119] Associated Press. “Begin Inquest Into Disaster At New Madrid.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, 2-8-1937, p. 2.
[120] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[121] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[122] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[123] AP. “Bodies of Two More…Taken from Flood Waters.” Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO, 2-10-1937, p1.
[124] Scott County Democrat, Benton, MO. “Dead and Missing More Than 30 in Barge Sink.” 2-4-1937, p. 1.
[125] Writing of the dynamiting of the levee. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Tim O’Neil). “The misery was even worse in 1937, the first time levee was breached.” 5-4-2011.
[126] United Press (Valco Lyle). “10,000 Made Homeless By Flood Waters.” Camden News, AR, 1-22-1937, p. 1.
[127] Associated Press. “Thieves Are Sought,” Joplin Globe, MO, 103101937, p. 4.
[128] Associated Press. “Floods by States and Cities.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
[129] United Press. “Weather Condition; Eight Deaths Result Indirectly from the Severe Weather.” Brookfield Argus, MO, 1-30-1937, p. 1.
[130] “Kennett, Mo., Jan. 25.–(AP)–Bitter cold weather continued today to handicap relief and rescue crews operating throughout the southeast Missouri flood area, according to Russell Williams, United States army engineer at the local emergency office. ‘It is the worst situation I have ever seen in the 14 years’ experience with floods,’ Williams said…Williams said 10 persons have died during the past few days of pneumonia caused by exposure during the flood. He said health conditions are ‘extremely bad.’” (Associated Press. “S.E. Missouri Flood Relief Crews Handicapped by Cold.” Joplin News Herald, MO. 1-25-1937, p. 5.)
[131] United Press (Valco Lyle). “10,000 Made Homeless By Flood Waters.” Camden News, AR, 1-22-1937, p. 1.
[132] St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “The misery was even worse in 1937, the first time levee was breached.” 5-4-2011.
[133] Lima News, OH. “Young Ada Girl Drowned.” 1-24-1937, p. 1.
[134] Victim was Mrs. Josephine Martino. Charleroi Mail, Charleroi, PA. “Related Flood Victim.” 20401937, p. 3.
[135] Eighth victim noted as John G. Chadwick, 57, president of Benefit Steel Furnace Co., “after a week of strenuous labor in the flooded Cumminsville district.”
[136] Also, Associated Press. “Floods by States and Cities.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
[137] AP. “Report 75,000 Homeless…Cincinnati.” Sunday Times-Signal, Zanesville, OH, 1-24-1937, 1 “The debris-laden Ohio river, moving sluggishly…at unprecedented flood stage, claimed tonight its fifth and sixth human lives from drowning in the greater Cincinnati area….Two…were drowned when a rescue boat capsized.”
[138] Associated Press. “Lebanon Man Drowns.” Daily News-Journal, Wilmington, OH, 1-25-1937, p. 2.
[139] Clearfield Progress, PA. “Houtzdale.” 2-3-1937, p. 6. (The driver of the car was from Houtzdale, PA.)
[140] Victim was Bessie Tomlin, according to Lisa Pasquinelli Rickey. Remembering the 1937 Flood (webpage).
[141] AP. “Damage Placed at Million in Pittsburgh’s Latest Flood.” Titusville Herald, PA, 1-27-1937, p. 1.
[142] AP. “Damage Placed at Million in Pittsburgh’s Latest Flood.” Titusville Herald, PA, 1-27-1937, p. 1. Notes the 14-year veteran was swept down the fast-moving Allegheny River before his companion could get a rope to him.
[143] AP. “Damage Placed at Million in Pittsburgh’s Latest Flood.” Titusville Herald, PA, 1-27-1937, p. 1. Rochester is about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh on the Ohio River.
[144] Help could not be obtained due to flooding. (AP. “Flood Indirect Cause of Death of Arkansas Boy.” 1-25-1937.)
[145] Associated Press. “Floods at a Glance.” Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA, 1-26-1937, p. 2.
[146] “Tiptonville, Tenn., Feb. 9 (UP). — A young National Guardsman was burned to death, two were burned critically and 11 others narrowly escaped death when an ail stove exploded in their quarters late last night. Private Clarence Stephens, 20, of Co. F., 117 Infantry Nashville, was trapped by flames that followed the explosion and burned to death almost instantly….The youths had been guarding the sandbag levee along the Union City-Tiptonville road.” (UP. “Trooper Is Victim Of Sudden Fire.” The Camden News, AR, 2-9-1937, p. 1.)
[147] The powerline was submerged. AP. “Worker Electrocuted,” Daily News-Journal, Wilmington, OH, 1-25-1937.
[148] Associated Press. “80,000 Are Homeless Along River Fronts.” Jefferson City Post-Tribune, MO, 1-22-1937, p. 2.
[149] A story published two days later states” “One army official, who refused to be quoted, said the bodies of 40 drowned persons were carried across the pontoon bridge [at West End] yesterday. Federal troops now are in charge of the bridge.” (AP. “Strengthen Levees Below Cairo; Death List at Louisville Grows.” Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport, PA, 1-29-1937, p. 10 (continued from p. 1).)
[150] Indiana County, PA, to the east of Pittsburgh and the Ohio River.
[151] Fayette County, western PA.
[152] Ranked No. 1 of “the twenty most important weather events to have struck this region in recorded history…” No mention, however, is made of any deaths.
[153] Ranked No. 1 of “the most important flood events to have struck this region [central Kentucky and southern Indiana] in recorded history…” No mention, however, is made of any deaths.
[154] Seven pages full of all sorts of data and information concerning the flooding, but not one mention of any deaths.