Sunday, June 17, 2012
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Arkansas River Flood, 1921
It was June 2, 1921, that torrential rains slammed Pueblo
County in Colorado, causing a flash flood that left more than 120 people dead,
140+ missing and over $19 million of dollars in property damaged. This was the
worst flood in state history to that time.
The Arkansas River runs through the plains of southeastern
Colorado. The Shaeffer Dam was built at the confluence of the Beaver Creek and
the Arkansas. When the rains caused the Beaver to swell, the earthen dam
failed, causing a huge rush of water into the Arkansas. Levees had been built along
the river to prevent floods however they proved no match for the extremely
heavy rains that pounded the region. As the levees failed, a deluge of water spread
through the streets. According to reports, the water rose to the second story
of buildings.
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