There is no question that floods can be among the most devastating natural disasters that hit any city. This is especially true when we look at the 1937 Ohio River Flood, which left over 1 million people homeless and almost 350 people dead. This is easily one of the worst floods to hit the United States in the last 100 years.
History
The rising water levels between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cairo, Illinois, began on January 5, 1937. It took only a few short weeks before January 18th for the Ohio River to push past its water banks. Fast-forward one week, and water levels have hit 54 feet in height in Evansville, Indiana, and 80 feet in Cincinnati. By January 27th, over 70% of Louisville, Kentucky, was underwater.
Damaged Goods
One of the most terrifying shots of the flood is how easily it pushed over train cars. Considering train cars could weigh up to 50 tons with cargo, that’s a pretty frightening look at how powerful the flooding water could be.
Train Car Damage
Unfortunately, this view of the same trainyard shows where the track cut off alongside a swept-away train car. The video shows the full extent of the flood’s damage and how many of these train cars were submerged underwater.
Boat Paddles
Residents of large and small towns had to use boats to travel around the flooded cities near the Ohio River. In this image, three town residents sail by with one gentleman manning the oars.
The Bridge
This image shows residents with nowhere to go but this bridge. Trying to come off the bridge meant water everywhere. While floods in Ohio and Indiana did not specifically trap these residents, they were very limited in their options.
Trapped Dogs
Sadly, this still image from the video shows four dogs trapped on a roof. The hope is that these dogs have plenty of food and water inside the window they came out of. However, there is also the chance the family lacks basic supplies.
More Boats
This image shows another view of residents moving around town on boats. In the background, you can see how high the water rises against the windows of buildings, so it’s easy to see that, according to historical accounts, the water is roughly 6-9 feet above street level.
Getting Around Town
If you watch the full video up until now, you’ll see that boats are the only way to get around with all the underwater roads. This image shows four separate wooden boats with town residents going from place to place.
Climbing Ladders
In the video, this still image captures a moment when someone comes down from a ladder into a boat to escape the flooding inside this home. It’s a tragic reminder of the dire circumstances that left over one million people homeless.
Flooded Homes
This image shows just how submerged a row of homes is. The middle home is almost completely submerged beneath the roof. Due to the rotted wood, these homes were likely unlivable even after the water receded.
Police Boat
Even law enforcement had to use boats to get around and stop anyone from causing criminal mischief. As is always the case, natural disasters can bring out the best and worst in people.
Watch the Full Video
Watch the full video to understand how much water came through the Ohio River, leaving one million people homeless. The video shows the desperation some residents displayed to escape their living situation.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©History-Computer.com/David Beren.
