DOCSLIB.ORG

The Great Flood of 1993 on the Upper Mississippi River 10 Years Later by Gary P

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Great Flood of 1993 on the Upper Mississippi River 10 Years Later by Gary P USGS science fora changing world The Great Flood of 1993 on the Upper Mississippi River 10 Years Later By Gary P. Johnson, Robert R. Holmes, Jr., and Loyd A. Waite The Mississippi River drains "The Mississippi River will approximately 40 percent of the always have its own way; no continental United States (ap­ engineering skill can persuade proximately 1.25 million square it to do otherwise..." miles; fig. 1), and portions of two - Mark Twain in Eruption Canadian provinces, Ontario and Manitoba. During the summer of 1993, the Upper Midwest experi­ Background enced extremely high amounts of rainfall. An abnormally stationary Ten years ago, the upper Missis­ jet stream was positioned over the sippi River Basin in the Midwest­ central part of the Nation during ern United States experienced the this time. Moist, unstable air mov­ costliest flood in the history of the ing north from the Gulf of Mexico United States. The flood came to converged with unseasonably cool, be known as " The Great Flood of dry air moving south from Canada. 1993." The magnitude and severity Grand Tower, Illinois, during the height of 115° 110 the flooding along the Mississippi River. Photo by Kevin Oberg, USGS. of the resulting flood event was overwhelming. The areal extent, intensity, and long duration of the flooding makes this one of the greatest natural disasters ever in the United States. At least 48 people lost their lives as a result of this extreme flood (Interagency Floodplain Management Task Force, 1994). Over 500 river fore­ cast stations in the Midwest were above flood stage at the same time. Nearly 150 major rivers and tribu­ taries flooded. Banks and chan­ Figure 1. Upper Mississippi River Basin in the United States. nels of many rivers were severely U.S. Department of the Interior USGS Fact Sheet 2004-3024 U.S. Geological Survey May 2004 Throughout July 1993 in many Midwestern States, rain fell 20 days or more, compared to a historical July average of 8-9 days (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1994). Measurable rain fell in parts of the upper Mississippi Basin every day between late June and late July. The per­ sistent wet-weather pattern in the Upper Midwest, typical in spring but not summer, sus­ tained the almost daily develop­ ment of rainfall during much of the summer (fig. 2). The Mississippi River at downtown St. Louis, looking west, showing lateral variability in the sediment concentration. Lighter areas have a greater suspended-sediment concentration. (Photo from Srenco Photography, St. Louis, Missouri, taken July 30, 1993, and published The Great Flood of 1993 with permission). The Great Flood of 1993 be­ eroded, and sediment was depos­ Wisconsin, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, gan in early June with saturated ited over large areas of the flood Illinois, and Indiana. Specifically, soils and streams filled to capacity plains of the Mississippi, Missouri, greater than 24 inches of rain fell across the Upper Midwest. Runoff and Illinois Rivers. Economic on central and northeastern Kan­ from the ensuing persistent heavy damages approached $20 billion sas, northern and central Missouri, rains of June, July, and August (National Oceanic and Atmospher­ most of Iowa, southern Minnesota, overflowed the streams and river ic Administration, 1994). Levees and southeastern Nebraska, and as channels. Flooding began on rivers were broken; farmland, towns, much as 38 inches fell in east-cen­ in Minnesota and Wisconsin and and transportation routes were tral Iowa. These amounts were ap­ eventually reached the Mississippi destroyed; and more than 50,000 proximately 200-350 per­ homes were damaged or destroyed cent greater than normal. (Josephson, 1994). Water-quality From April 1 to August threats to public health and safety 31, precipitation amounts were of paramount concern. These approached 48 inches in threats included contamination of east-central Iowa, easily drinking-water supplies, disrup­ surpassing the area's nor­ tion of wastewater-treatment plant mal annual precipitation operations, failure of septic sys­ of 30-36 inches. Record tems, and risks associated with the summer rainfalls achieved inundation of facilities that handle 75- to 300-year frequen­ hazardous materials. cies (Stallings, 1994). JAN FEE MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG A critical factor affect­ 1993 Precipitation ing the record flooding DATE was the persistent nature Figure 2. Comparison of average and observed From June to August 1993, of the rainfall. It is no­ monthly precipitation totals from January 1993 to rainfall totals surpassed 12 inches table that the flooding August 1993 for the upper Mississippi River Basin across the eastern Dakotas, south­ was not the result of one (from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis­ ern Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, large precipitation event. tration, 1994). 1,100.000 Table 2. Levee failures during the Great 1,000,000 Mississippi River at St. Louis, MO Flood of 1993 (from Larson, 1996). peak discharge 900,000 Corps of Number of failed or 1,080,000 cubic overtopped levees 800,000 feet per second Engineers District Federal Non-Federal uo 700,000 St. Paul, MN Iof32 2 of 93 600.000 Rock Island, IL 12 of 73 19 of 185 O g 500,000 St. Louis, MO 12 of 42 39 of 47 400,000 ru 810 of 810 Kansas City, MO 6 of 48 300,000 Omaha, NE 9of31 173 of 210 200,000 15 22 29 5 12 19 26 3 10 17 24 31 7 14 21 28 Totals 40 of 226 1,043 of 1,345 MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST 1993 flood stage of the Mississippi River Figure 3. Hydrograph of Mississippi River at St. Louis, Missouri, from May to just north of St. Louis resulted in August 1993. another record crest of the Missis­ sippi River at St. Louis on August River, cresting at St. Louis on July crest moved down the Missouri I of 49.58 feet, and record flow of 12 at about 43 feet, approaching River setting new records at Boon- greater than 1 million cubic feet per the previous stage of record. The ville, Jefferson City, Hermann, St. second (fig. 3). A new record crest Missouri River crested at 48.87 feet Charles, and other locations. This (over 4 feet higher than the previ­ at Kansas City on July 27. This record flow combined with the ous record) was measured on the Illinois River at Hardin on August Table 1. Some locations with new record stages in the upper Mississippi River Basin 3. Every streamflow-gaging station (from Parrett and Others, 1993). [ft, feet; mm/dd/yy, month, day, and year] on the Mississippi River from Rock Old record New record Island, Illinois to Thebes, Illinois Flood stage Stage Date Stage Date experienced a new flood of record. (ft) (ft) (mm/dd/yy) (ft) (mm/dd/yy) Selected locations where new Mississippi River record stages were set during the Rock Island, IL 15 22.5 04/28/65 22.6 07/09/93 Great Flood of 1993 are shown in Keithsburg, IL 13 20.4 04/27/65 24.2 07/09/93 table 1 (Parrett and others, 1993). Quincy, IL 17 28.9 04/23/73 32.2 07/13/93 Thousands of acres were in­ Hannibal, MO 16 28.6 04/25/73 31.8 07/16/93 undated as a result of the record Clarksville, MO 25 36.8 04/24/73 37.7 07/29/93 flooding. The first levee was Winfield, MO 26 36.9 04/27/73 39.6 08/01/93 overtopped on June 7, but levee Grafton, IL 18 33.2 04/28/73 38.17 08/01/93 failures soon became common. Alton, IL 21 36.7 04/28/73 42.72 08/01/93 Over 1,000 Federal and non-Fed­ St Louis, MO 30 43.23 04/28/73 49.58 08/01/93 eral levees were topped or failed Chester, IL 27 43.32 04/30/73 49.74 08/07/93 (table 2) during the flood (Larson, 1996). Levee failures resulted in Missouri River large amounts of sediments de­ St. Joseph, MO 17 26.82 04/23/52 32.07 07/26/93 posited in some inundated areas, Kansas City, MO 32 36.20 07/14/51 48.87 07/27/93 and large quantities of sediments Boonville, MO 21 32.82 07/17/51 37.10 07/29/93 were scoured from other inundated Jefferson City, MO 23 34.2 07/18/51 38.6 07/30/93 areas (Schalk and Jacobson, 1997; Hermann, MO 21 35.79 10/05/86 36.97 07/31/93 Schalk, Holmes, and Johnson, St. Charles, MO 25 37.50 10/07/86 40.04 08/02/93 1998; and Jacobson and Oberg, Illinois River 1997). Hardin, IL 25 38.2 04/29/73 42.36 08/03/93 3 Federal Response in the 10 Years The Federal Government re­ (fig. 4), either by Federal acquisi­ Since the Flood sponse and recovery costs for the tions, property relocations, prop­ Great Flood of 1993 exceeded $4.2 erty elevating, or by flood proofing In addition to the response of billion. The expenditures of the of properties (Federal Emergency the Federal Government during Federal Emergency Management Management Agency, 2003). In the Great Flood of 1993, including Agency (FEMA), now part of the addition, the Great Flood of 1993 extensive data collection, fore­ U.S. Department of Homeland provided the impetus for the U.S. casting, flood-control efforts, and Security, totaled $1.14 billion. Fish and Wildlife Service to create rescue and evacuation efforts, the Much of this cost went to hazard the Big Muddy National Fish and Federal Government has contin­ mitigation projects.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The 1951 Kansas - Missouri Floods
    The 1951 Kansas - Missouri Floods ... Have We Forgotten? Introduction - This report was originally written as NWS Technical Attachment 81-11 in 1981, the thirtieth anniversary of this devastating flood. The co-authors of the original report were Robert Cox, Ernest Kary, Lee Larson, Billy Olsen, and Craig Warren, all hydrologists at the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center at that time. Although most of the original report remains accurate today, Robert Cox has updated portions of the report in light of occurrences over the past twenty years. Comparisons of the 1951 flood to the events of 1993 as well as many other parenthetic remarks are examples of these revisions. The Storms of 1951 - Fifty years ago, the stage was being set for one of the greatest natural disasters ever to hit the Midwest. May, June and July of 1951 saw record rainfalls over most of Kansas and Missouri, resulting in record flooding on the Kansas, Osage, Neosho, Verdigris and Missouri Rivers. Twenty-eight lives were lost and damage totaled nearly 1 billion dollars. (Please note that monetary damages mentioned in this report are in 1951 dollars, unless otherwise stated. 1951 dollars can be equated to 2001 dollars using a factor of 6.83. The total damage would be $6.4 billion today.) More than 150 communities were devastated by the floods including two state capitals, Topeka and Jefferson City, as well as both Kansas Cities. Most of Kansas and Missouri as well as large portions of Nebraska and Oklahoma had monthly precipitation totaling 200 percent of normal in May, 300 percent in June, and 400 percent in July of 1951.
    [Show full text]
  • West Lake Landfill/Earth City Industrial Park Levee System
    UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION VII 901 NORTH 5TH STREET KANSAS CITY, KANSAS 66101 FEB S 21118 OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR The Honorable Christopher S. Bond U.S. Senate 274 Senate Russell Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Bond: Thank you for your letter dated January 22, 2008, regarding the Westlake Landfill Superfund Site. I would like to assure you that we have reviewed existing information on floods and levee performance. Enclosed is a detailed technical memorandum that summarizes our findings and conclusions. Also enclosed; a presentation that my staff prepared, a page listing the resources that were used, and a map showing the West Lake Landfill/Earth City Industrial Park Levee System. We analyzed the information in response to your question regarding the flood of 1993 and the breach ofthe Chesterfield levee upstream. The Chesterfield-Monarch Levee was considered by FEMA to be a 100-year levee. Early speculation was that the failure of the Chesterfield-Monarch type levees relieved the pressures on the urban levees that did not fail. To determine the real effects existing levees had on peak levels for the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers utilized its UNET model. Results of the modeling demonstrated that if all levees protecting agricultural land such as the Chesterfield-Monarch, 100-year levee were absent, the peak flood stage in the St. Louis area would have been reduced by 2.5 feet, but still 17 feet above flood stage and almost 4 feet higher than the previous maximum recorded from the 1973 flood event.
    [Show full text]
  • Learning from the Mississippi Flood of 1993: Impacts, Management Issues, and Areas for Research
    U.S.- Italy Research Workshop on the Hydrometeorology, Impacts, and Management of Extreme Floods Perugia (Italy), November 1995 LEARNING FROM THE MISSISSIPPI FLOOD OF 1993: IMPACTS, MANAGEMENT ISSUES, AND AREAS FOR RESEARCH Gerald E. Galloway, Jr. Dean of the Faculty and Academic Programs Industrial College of the Armed Forces National Defense University, Washington, DC 20319, USA (Formerly Executive Director, Interagency Floodplain Management Review Committee, Executive Office of the President of the United States, Washington, DC.) Abstract. Throughout the Summer and Fall of 1993, the people throughout the world with access to the Cable News [television] Network (CNN) were shown scenes of the devastation brought on the Midwestern part of the United States by what became known as the “Great Mississippi Flood of 1993. Since the early days of the 20th century, the United States had labored to reduce the vulnerability of its people to flood damages and yet this flood had destroyed tens of thousands of homes, flooded hundreds of thousands of acres of prime farmland and had disrupted the economic and social fabric of several million people. National leaders as well as private citizens not only raised questions about how such flood damages occurred, but demanded to know what should be done to prevent recurrences of these damages. This paper discusses the 1993 flood in terms of its extent and its impacts on the region and its populace and describes and extracts from the conclusions reached by a White House based Interagency Floodplain Management Review Committee as to the causes of the flood, and management of the floodplain both in the Mississippi basin and nationwide.
    [Show full text]
  • Nov 26197 97
    After the Flood: Long-Term Restoration of the Lower Missouri River by Debra A. Edelstein A.B., English Bryn Mawr College, 1974 Submitted to the Department of Urban Studies and Planning in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of City Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology September 1997 ©1997 Debra A. Edelstein. All rights reserved. The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis document in whole or in part. Signature of Author: 15epartment of Urban Studies and Planning lulv 8,1997 Certified by: / risina Hill Assistant Pro or of Urban Sy es gnd Planning Accepted by: J.Mark Schuster ociate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning Chair, MCP Committee NOV 2619797 i IARAPAES After the Flood: Long-Term Restoration of the Lower Missouri River by Debra A. Edelstein Submitted to the Department of Urban Studies and Planning on July 8, 1997, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of City Planning ABSTRACT The gorgeous river that Lewis and Clark charted during their myth-making expedition of 1804-6 now runs free in only the first 25 of its 2,315 miles. Large- scale dam, reservoir, and channelization projects have radically altered the morphology, hydrology, and ecology of the river and its floodplain, while making possible the myriad activities upon which human society depends. In the two centuries since European settlement, we have managed the river for the needs of an increasing human population, and in the process have managed to jeopardize the health of the river itself.
    [Show full text]
  • Nature Rules in the Great Flood of 1993
    Aquatic Illinois Nature Rules in the Great Flood of 1993 SUGGESTED GRADE LEVELS: MS CORRELATION TO ILLINOIS LEARNING STANDARDS: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts ‐ Reading Standards for SUBJECTS: Social Science Literacy in History/Social Studies: Key Ideas and Details 1, 2; Writing Standards SKILLS: research and analysis, comparative reasoning, problem for Literacy in History/Social Studies: Text Types and Purposes 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e; solving, role playing, critical thinking, interpretation Research to Build and Present Knowledge 7, 8, 9 Social Science – SS.IS.6.6‐8.LC., SS.IS.6.6‐8.MdC., SS.G.2.6‐8.LC., SS.G.2.6‐8.MdC., SS.G.2.6‐8.MC, SS.G.3.6‐8.LC. Objectives In the Great Flood of 1993, most of the flooding damage was con - Students will realize the economic, social and ecological impacts fined to structures and farms that were within the Mississippi of the Great Flood of 1993. River’s flood plain. An important policy issue debated on the state and federal levels is whether government should subsidize dry Method land agriculture in flood plains through price supports, disaster Students will conduct a town meeting to debate the pros and cons relief, maintenance and rebuilding of levees and pumping stations of living in a flood plain. instead of focusing on aquaculture (cultivating aquatic plants and animals), flood-adapted fish and wildlife production or at least a Background more flood-adapted form of agriculture. River flood plains occur on the relatively flat land that typically bor - ders a river’s channel.
    [Show full text]
  • The Farmer and the Flood: an Exploration of Flood Management in Missouri
    The Farmer and the Flood: An Exploration of Flood Management in Missouri Senior Honors Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the School of Arts and Sciences Brandeis University Undergraduate Program in Environmental Studies Professor Brian Donahue, Advisor In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts by Benée Hershon April 20, 2020 Committee Members: Professor Brian Donahue Professor Colleen Hitchcock Professor Sara Shostak 2 Abstract In the history of agriculture, the United States’ Corn Belt has been one of the most altered and intensely cultivated regions in the country. In the spring of 2019, the region was inundated 1 with extreme rainfall. These rain events led to severe flooding causing damage to levees, communities and agricultural lands, totaling billions of dollars in damage. This thesis will focus on the complexities of the flooding in Missouri. This thesis has two aims. The first, to explore the history of agriculture and levee flood management in the region, and the second to interview farmers impacted by flooding in Jackson County, Missouri. Information from interviews conducted in the county will be used to assess both sides of the flood management debate and recommendations for sustainable best practices will be made. 1 Irfan, Umair (2019, June 11). “The severe floods soaking the Midwest and Southeast are not letting up”. Retrieved From: https://www.vox.com/2019/6/11/18659676/flood-midwest-nebraska-iowa-forecast ​ 3 Acknowledgements I would like to thank Professor Brian Donahue for being my advisor of this thesis. Thank you for your guidance and support throughout this process, and for inspiring my interests in sustainable agriculture and land management through your courses and the passion which you bring to them.
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Flood of 1993 : Geologic Perspectives On
    The Great Flood of 1993 Geologic Perspectives on the Flooding along the Mississippi River and Its Tributaries in Illinois M.J. Chrzastowski, M.M. Killey, R.A. Bauer, RB. DuMontelle, A.L. Erdmann, B.L. Herzog, f.M. Masters, and L.R. Smith Illinois State Geological Survey • Department of Energy and Natural Resources • Special Report 2 • 1994 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://archive.org/details/greatfloodof199302illi The Great Flood of 1 993 Geologic Perspectives on Flooding along the Mississippi River and Its Tributaries in Illinois M.J. Chrzastowski, MM. Killey, R.A. Bauer, RB. DuMontelle, A.L. Erdmann, B.L. Herzog, J.M. Masters, and L.R. Smith -stfssr March 1994 Special Report 2 ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Morris W. Leighton, Chief Natural Resources Building 615 E. Peabody Drive Champaign, Illinois 61820-6964 Cover photo Flooding across the entire 6-mile-wide floodplain of the Mississippi River valley north ofQuincy in Adams County, Illinois. View is toward the north across the Indian Grave and the Hunt and Lima Lake Drainage and Levee Districts. (July 21, 1993. Photo byJ.M. Dexter, ISGS.) Printed by authority of the State of lllinois/1994/2000 NQo printed on recycled paper Contents THE 1993 FLOODING ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES: GEOLOGIC PERSPECTIVES 1 OVERVIEW OF THE 1993 FLOOD 4 Weather 4 Record Flood Conditions 5 GEOLOGIC CONTROLS OF THE 1993 FLOODING 6 Geologic History and Landscape Evolution 7 Evolution of Drainage Patterns 7 Floodplains
    [Show full text]
  • Impacts of Recent Climate Anomalies: Losers and Winners
    I MPA C T S OF RE C ENT CLIMATE A NOMALIE S : LO S E RS AN D W INNE RS IMPACTS OF RECENT CLIMATE ANOMALIES: LOSERS AND WINNERS Jmmjopjt!Tubuf STANLEY A. CHANGNON • KENNETH E. KUNKEL • DAVID CHANGNON Changnon, Kunkel, & Changnon Tvswfz!!)29:6* J MMJ OPJT EF QB SU NF OU! PG Data/Case Study 2007-01 OBUV SB M SFTPVSDFT Illinois State Water Survey A Division of the Illinois Department Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available of Natural Resources to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion, or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source’s and an affiliated agency civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175. of the University of Illinois IMPACTS OF RECENT CLIMATE ANOMALIES: LOSERS AND WINNERS Stanley A. Changnon and Kenneth E. Kunkel Illinois State Water Survey David Changnon Northern Illinois University Illinois State Water Survey Illinois Department of Natural Resources and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2204 Griffith Drive Champaign, Illinois 61820-7495 June 2007 This report was printed on recycled and recyclable papers. Contents Page Chapter 1: Importance of Climate Anomalies. 1 Assessing Weather and Climate Impacts. 5 Chapter 2: Wet Period 1985-1986. 10 Climate Conditions. 10 Impacts. 12 Chapter 3: The 1988 Drought.
    [Show full text]
  • Preparing for and Responding to Flood Disasters: a Tale of Two Floods
    Syracuse University SURFACE Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects Projects Spring 5-2016 Preparing for and Responding to Flood Disasters: A Tale of Two Floods Rachel Correll Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone Part of the Geography Commons Recommended Citation Correll, Rachel, "Preparing for and Responding to Flood Disasters: A Tale of Two Floods" (2016). Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects. 971. https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/971 This Honors Capstone Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects at SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. © (Rachel Correll, May 2016) ii Abstract There have been major floods throughout geologic history and there will continue to be major floods for centuries and milleniums to come. Preparation and response strategies have always been in place, however, with more frequent and sever floods expected to come in the future, these strategies certainly have room for improvement. In this thesis I outline the strangths and weaknesses of these strategies in two case studies, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and The Great Mississippi Flood of 1993 in St. Louis. My research compares disaster preparedness and response in two case studies of recent major flooding in the U.S. My objective is to learn from these cases, searching for ways to improve future methods and strategies to protect from flood disasters. The most outstanding problems lie within the trust in levees, the reluctance to evacuate, and the resources available post-disaster.
    [Show full text]
  • ORDER NOW! Contents 1932 Chapter One
    ORDER NOW! Chapter One . COntentS. 13 How Could This Happen? Chapter twO . .19 Beginning the Great Deluge Chapter three . 27 The Hardin Cemetery Disaster The voice of hisToric NorTheasT KaNsas ciTy siNce 1932 Chapter FOUr . .31 Flooding in an Historic Town FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Chapter FIVe . .41 Flooding Down by the Riverside June 5, 2013 Chapter SIX . .46 Kansas City's Northeast News, an award winning community newspaper is proud to A United States Presidential Citation announce the release of a new book by nationally renowned outdoor writer Kenneth Chapter SeVen . .67 L Kieser. St. Joseph, Missouri’s Planning "Missouri's Great Flood of 1993 - revisiting an epic natural disaster" is being released Chapter eIGht . 77 June 10th and will be available in soft or hard cover throughout the Missouri River An Airforce Underwater Valley. Chapter nIne . .83 Through Kenny's up close and personal experiences during the flood combined with Lewis and Clark Oxbow personal interviews with those who survived the flood, Kieser weaves a compelling Chapter ten . .87 and introspective view in to what was called "Missouri's 500 year flood". The Great Sheep Flotilla, an Incredible Escape and Mound City Avoids Disaster "We wanted to provide a comprehensive document of history that outlines not only Chapter eLeVen . .93 how, meteorologically the flood occurred, but also how those who lived through the The Flooded Town That Became A Hollywood Movie Set flood survived and rebuilt after the waters receded" said Mr. Kieser as he stood on Chapter tweLVe . .97 the banks of the Missouri River near Riverside, MO.
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Flood of 1993 Computes a Daily Index of Soil Moisture, Considers Additional Rainfall, and Computes Any Possible Runoff
    U.S.- Italy Research Workshop on the Hydrometeorology, Impacts, and Management of Extreme Floods Perugia (Italy), November 1995 THE GREAT USA FLOOD OF 1993 Lee W. Larson Office of Hydrology NOAA, National Weather Service Silver Spring, Maryland, USA 20910 Abstract. From May through September of 1993, major and/or record flooding occurred in the Mississippi River basin across the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Fifty flood deaths occurred, and damages approached $15 billion (15,000 million U.S. dollars.) Hundreds of levees failed along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The magnitude and severity of this flood event was simply over-whelming, and it ranks as one of the greatest natural disasters ever to hit the United States of America. Approximately 600 river forecast points in the Midwestern United States were above flood stage at the same time. Nearly 150 major rivers and tributaries were affected. It was certainly the largest and most significant flood event ever to occur in the United States. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated, some never to return to their homes. At least 10,000 homes were totally destroyed, hundreds of towns were impacted with at least 75 towns totally and completely under flood waters. At least 15 million acres of farmland were inundated, some of which may not be useable for years to come. Transportation was severely impacted. Barge traffic on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers was stopped for nearly 2 months. Bridges were out or not accessible on the Mississippi River from Davenport, Iowa, downstream to St.
    [Show full text]
  • The Top Five Iowa Floods
    The Top Five Iowa Floods Jeff Zogg, Senior Hydrologist National Weather Service WFO Des Moines, Iowa March 2014 Table of Contents 1. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................5 2. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................5 2.a. Methodology .........................................................................................................................5 2.b. Other Floods .........................................................................................................................6 3. Iowa Flood #1—The Great Flood of 1993 ..................................................................................6 3.a. Description and Impacts ........................................................................................................6 3.b. Causes ...................................................................................................................................6 3.c. Other Impacts and Information .............................................................................................7 3.d. Photos ....................................................................................................................................8 3.e. Links ......................................................................................................................................9 4. Iowa Flood #2—The 2008 Flood ...............................................................................................10
    [Show full text]