Great Flood of '47: Iowa Time Machine June 6, 1947

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On June 6, 1947, torrents of floodwater cascaded down the Des Moines River to threaten the area surrounding Ottumwa. During a monumental flood lasting from June 6-15, the river crested first at 20.24’ on June 7 before cresting again over 20’ on June 14th.

Following late snow, a wet spring turned into a rainy start to June. The month of June 1947 averaged 10.39 inches of rain across Iowa, still the largest total for any one month in the Weather Bureau’s records. As the Des Moines surged in the first days of June, residents along the river cautiously observed the increasingly wild river. Before the construction of major dams at Red Rock and Saylorville, flood control measures proved quickly inadequate. During the first crest, a torrent surged through Ottumwa’s downtown, forcing many residents to evacuate or take shelter on the second floor of buildings. Some families spent up to a week stranded while waiting for the waters to recede. In the days immediately following the first crest, Iowans throughout the state sought to help by trucking in drinking water, food, and clothing donations.

When skies again opened across the state during the second week of June, local people stopped their initial efforts to clean up when the Des Moines rose again. The entire population of Eddyville, just up the river from the Wapello County seat, evacuated before the waters submerged the entire town. In Ottumwa, citizens banded together to build dikes and stack sandbags in the hope of offsetting some of the surge. The U.S. Army sent food and supplies to stockpile at local schools, and residents sought shelter again when levels exceeded 20 feet.

Finally, the waters receded, and residents went to work rebuilding along the Des Moines. To mitigate future events, major projects followed to widen the channel, construct levees, straighten the river's course, and repurpose floodplain lands. Although many floods followed, the river wouldn’t again crest above 20 feet until the 1993 flood threatened the city. #Iowa #OTD #History #Weather #Flooding