Great flood of 1927

Interesting read on the 1927 flood from my hometown newspaper.

http://www.bastropenterprise.com/art...NEWS/150309963

Facts about the Flood of 1927

• 14 percent of Arkansas' territory was covered by floodwaters
• The Mississippi reached a width of 60 miles below Memphis
• 23,000 square miles of land was submerged
• Some residential areas reported water depth of 30 feet
• Floodwaters took up to two months to subside in some locations
Levees broke in nearly 150 locations
• Damage estimates topped $400 million
• Over 700,000 people were displaced
• Bastrop housed approximately 7,000 refugees

Levees were broken on purpose in Arkansas correct? Legend has it that it was to relieve the levees in the more densely populated areas of South Louisiana.

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Originally Posted by maddawg

Levees were broken on purpose in Arkansas correct? Legend has it that it was to relieve the levees in the more densely populated areas of South Louisiana.

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That's what I always heard

http://www.crusoegraphics.com/assets..._1927_full.jpg

map of area flooded

One of my favorite Aaron Neville recordings was about the 1927 flood. Take a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyfvnM4Grik

That was the start of big Federal government.

Highly recommend -
Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How it Changed America - http://www.amazon.com/Rising-Tide-Mississippi-Changed-America/dp/0684840022

My Mom has a picture of my Grandfather and his sister sitting on the balcony of the 2nd floor of a hotel in Ferriday with their feet in the water!

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Originally Posted by DawgFaninHous

My Mom has a picture of my Grandfather and his sister sitting on the balcony of the 2nd floor of a hotel in Ferriday with their feet in the water!

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I have some pictures somewhere of the mail being handed out the second story window of the post office in Jonesville, which is 14 miles west of Ferriday. There were several refugees living on the great mound in jonesville, and were there for weeks!

I had pics at one time of people riding in boats down Main Street in Winnsboro.

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Originally Posted by barkly

One of my favorite Aaron Neville recordings was about the 1927 flood. Take a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyfvnM4Grik

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Written by Randy Newman

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/ar...f=slogi..&_r=0

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Originally Posted by SicemDawgz

I had pics at one time of people riding in boats down Main Street in Winnsboro.

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If you find it I want a copy!

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Originally Posted by BhadDawg

I have some pictures somewhere of the mail being handed out the second story window of the post office in Jonesville, which is 14 miles west of Ferriday. There were several refugees living on the great mound in jonesville, and were there for weeks!

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Frogmore and Monterey is between the two. I was down there yesterday. Northeast LA got the shaft as usual when as I have heard it a couple of New Orleans mobsters stuffed the levee full of dynamite.

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Originally Posted by KSDAWG

If you find it I want a copy!

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It disappeared in 2011 when we moved along with several other things.

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Originally Posted by maddawg

Levees were broken on purpose in Arkansas correct? Legend has it that it was to relieve the levees in the more densely populated areas of South Louisiana.

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Originally Posted by Cool Hand Clyde

That's what I always heard

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Exactly it. Many of the older people in St. Charles (Chalmette) and other surrounding New Orleans still hold a grudge. In fact, they were very suspicious of all the flooding and the levee breaking from Katrina because of the history of this flood. At least, the relatives of my ex-brother-in-law who are from there.

Of course that is exactly what the two modern floodways do today. They were built right after WWII and the first time they were opened was in 1973. I believe one goes into Lake Ponchetrain and the other to the Atchafalaya. I remember crossing the Atchafalaya flood basin at Easter of 1973 and it was completely flooded. The Mississippi in New Orleans was at least eight or ten feet above the street level at Jackson Square - lapping at the top of the levee there. There was some seepage on the west bank and "mattresses" were place at those spots.

The flooding from Katrina was from the Lake side levees not holding. They were not built as "sea wall" type construction and couldn't withstand the wave pounding from the north. We had the same problem with Lake Livingston Dam in Rita and had to lower the lake level to repair the dam. Hopefully the Corps of Engineers has learned their lesson and reinforced those levees to sea wall strength.

I also believe the Red River can be diverted into the Atchafalaya - actually it looks like they are connected.

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Originally Posted by Houston Techsan

Of course that is exactly what the two modern floodways do today. They were built right after WWII and the first time they were opened was in 1973. I believe one goes into Lake Ponchetrain and the other to the Atchafalaya. I remember crossing the Atchafalaya flood basin at Easter of 1973 and it was completely flooded. The Mississippi in New Orleans was at least eight or ten feet above the street level at Jackson Square - lapping at the top of the levee there. There was some seepage on the west bank and "mattresses" were place at those spots.

The flooding from Katrina was from the Lake side levees not holding. They were not built as "sea wall" type construction and couldn't withstand the wave pounding from the north. We had the same problem with Lake Livingston Dam in Rita and had to lower the lake level to repair the dam. Hopefully the Corps of Engineers has learned their lesson and reinforced those levees to sea wall strength.

I also believe the Red River can be diverted into the Atchafalaya - actually it looks like they are connected.

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I was in the Louisiana National Guard, and we got deployed to Morgan City at Easter of 1973 to build levies. The salt water was "back-flowing" into the marshes, and the snakes were taking over everything. I have not been back to that area since, and I hope to never return !!