1947 — June 23, Flooding, Cambridge to Orleans, NE — 13
— 13 Lincoln Journal Star. “12 of the deadliest disasters in Nebraska history.” 6-15-2017.
— 13 Nebraska Dept. of Natural Resources. State of Nebraska Flood Mitigation Plan. 2003, 53.
— 13 Nebraska State Historical Society. Republican Flood of 1935: Nebraska’s Deadliest Flood.
Narrative Information
Lincoln Journal Star, 2017: No. 9. “1947 Republican River flood, 13 deaths. In June 1947, 8 inches of rain fell in 24 hours in the Medicine Creek basin north of Cambridge, a weather service account of the flood said. The water spilled into the Republican basin, causing flash flooding down to Orleans. ‘Despite residents’ chopping holes in the roofs of their homes to escape the rapidly rising water, 13 people still perished in the area from Cambridge to Orleans,’ the National Weather Service account says. The Medicine Creek Dam was constructed upstream of Cambridge in 1948-49 to help prevent such disasters ever happening again.” (Lincoln Journal Star. “12 of the deadliest disasters in Nebraska history.” 6-15-2017.)
Nebraska State Historical Society: “On June 23, 1947, 13 were killed in Cambridge and Orleans. Total damage was estimated at $15 million, largely because 7.5 inches of rain fell in the Medicine Creek watershed. When this flow mixed with the already-swollen Republican flow, it caused it to rise to a record stage in Orleans: 23 feet, 14 feet over flood stage.” (Nebraska State Historical Society. Republican Flood of 1935: Nebraska’s Deadliest Flood.)
Nebraska Department of Natural Resources: “Medicine Creek. June 22, 1947. Cambridge. $15,000,000 [economic losses]. 13 [fatalities]. 250 homes damaged, ‘wall of water 8’ high,’ damage to railroad, roads, and bridges very bad.” (Nebraska Dept. of Natural Resources. State of Nebraska Flood Mitigation Plan. 2003, 53.)
NWS: “During June 1947, flooding was severe along Medicine Creek and the downstream reaches of the Republican River in southwestern Nebraska, along the Elkhorn River in northeastern Nebraska, and along the lower Loup River in central Nebraska. In the Medicine Creek Basin north of Cambridge, rainfall of up to 8 inches occurred in a 24-hour period on June 21-22. As the water spilled into the Republican Basin, flash flooding ensued downstream to Orleans. Despite residents chopping holes in the roofs of their homes to escape the rapidly rising water, 13 people still perished in the area from Cambridge to Orleans. Property damage was extensive (no dollar amount available). This killer flood followed on the heels of the “Great Republican River Flood” just 12 years earlier in 1935. To help prevent such disasters from happening again, the Medicine Creek Dam was constructed upstream of Cambridge. The dam was built in 1948-49 and has provided decades of protection from potential flood waters, as well as meeting vital irrigation needs in the region. Elsewhere more than 6 inches of rain in central Nebraska on June 22 caused floods along the North, Middle, and South Loup Rivers. The Loup River subsequently flooded the low-lying areas of Columbus. Parts of the Elkhorn River basin in northeastern Nebraska also were flooded.” (National Weather Service (David Pearson). Top 5 Nebraska Floods. “Medicine Creek/Republican River Flood of 1947.”)
Sources
Lincoln Journal Star. “12 of the deadliest disasters in Nebraska history.” 6-15-2017. Accessed 7-3-2017 at: http://journalstar.com/blogs/photofiles/of-the-deadliest-disasters-in-nebraska-history/collection_6ae50d55-7d8a-5b6f-b1c3-b0b54cfe84f0.html#8
National Weather Service (David Pearson, Senior Service Hydrologist, WFO Omaha). Top 5 Nebraska Floods. “Medicine Creek/Republican River Flood of 1947.” Accessed 7-17-2017 at: https://www.weather.gov/media/gld/1935flood/pdf/Top5NebraskaFloods_for_HQ.pdf
Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. State of Nebraska Flood Mitigation Plan. Lincoln, NE: Jan 2003. http://dnrdata.dnr.ne.gov/download/Floodplain/Nebraska-Flood-Mitigation-Plan.pdf
Nebraska State Historical Society. Republican Flood of 1935: Nebraska’s Deadliest Flood. Accessed at: http://www.dnr.state.ne.us/floodplain/mitigation/1935flood.html