The severe flooding in Texas’ Hill Country has stunned and frightened the nation, as Americans across the country anxiously await updates on ongoing rescue operations. Numerous individuals, including young campers and counselors from a local summer camp, have tragically lost their lives due to the devastating floods that ravaged central Texas. The relentless rainfall swiftly altered the landscape in the region, with water levels of the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas rising from less than a foot on July 3 to over 34 feet by the early hours of July 4.
This is not the first time that Americans have grieved over the victims of deadly floods. Here is a look at some of the most catastrophic flooding events in American history, listed in order of the highest number of lives lost.
1889: The Johnstown Flood
The deadliest flood in U.S. history occurred when a dam upstream from Johnstown, Pennsylvania failed on May 31, 1889, resulting in the deaths of more than 2,200 people in western Pennsylvania. The release of 20,000 tons of water from the South Fork Dam caused widespread destruction, and today, visitors can pay their respects at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial.
2005: Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast in August 2005, leading to the failure of the levee system in New Orleans as the Category 4 hurricane unleashed torrential rain and powerful winds. The devastation incurred damages exceeding $100 billion, and claimed the lives of 1,833 individuals, with enduring images of rescue efforts etched into the nation’s memory.
1913’s Great Flood
The Great Flood of 1913 began in the Midwest on March 21, 1913, with storms dumping 11 inches of rain in Ohio over five days – equivalent to the state’s typical three-month rainfall. Cities like Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton were severely affected, resulting in at least 467 fatalities and over $100 million in property damage.
1928: St. Francis Dam Disaster
The failure of the St. Francis Dam is considered one of the worst civil engineering catastrophes of the 20th century. The dam collapsed near Los Angeles just before midnight on March 12, 1928, claiming the lives of around 450 individuals as nearly 12.4 billion gallons of water surged through the San Francisquito Canyon.
1937: Ohio River Flood
The 1937 floods along the Ohio River were triggered by record-breaking rainfall, leading to widespread devastation and claiming the lives of at least 350 people. The catastrophe left a lasting impact on the region, with water levels reaching 80 feet in Cincinnati during that period.
The Great Depression left almost 1 million people homeless as the nation struggled. Heavy rains caused parts of the river to reach about 80 feet, submerging 15 to 20% of Cincinnati. This article was first published on USA TODAY: From Hurricane Katrina to dam disasters, the deadliest floods in US history.
