| Accession# |
VE4-2010 |
| Catalog date |
02/12/2010 |
| Collection |
OSHP Collections |
| Date of photo |
1937 |
| Description |
Crests were 20 to 28 feet above flood stage on the Ohio River in 1937 and 4 to 9 feet above previous records. Six to 12 inches of rain fell in Ohio during January 13-25, 1937, totals never before or since experienced over such a large area of Ohio. January 1937 remains as the wettest month ever recorded in Ohio.
The Ohio River crested at 80 feet at Cincinnati on January 26. This was 28 feet over flood stage and 9 feet above the 1884 record. More than 50,000 were homeless, 10% of the city was inundated, water supply was cut, and streetcar service was curtailed. At Portsmouth, it became clear that the flood wall, erected 10 feet above flood stage, would be topped by the rising river. City officials deliberately opened the flood gates and allowed river water to flood the business district 8 to 10 feet deep, thus preventing a catastrophic breaching of the flood wall.
Former Patrolman John Evans remembers his experiences during the flood of 1937.
|
| Year Range from |
1937 |
| Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
| Year range to |
1937 |
| Object ID |
VE4-2010-004 |
| Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
|
