FLOODS IN OHIO

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 9

FLOODS IN OHIO

Storms Claim 37 Lives

Press Assoctatton-Copvrtghti NEW YORK, January 22. A state of emergency was in force in five Ohio cities early today as the Middle West deathroll in the winter’s heaviest storms mounted to a known 37. Thousands evacuated their homes as snow and torrential rain pushed rivers past flood levels in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. National . Guard units were called out in Ohio and Indiana to aid in the evacuations and prevent looting. Hardest hit was the Ohio city of Mount Vernon where 5000 of the 15,000 population had to evacuate their houses after the snow and torrential rain flooded the little Kokosing river. The latest spectacular accident in the storm belt was when a 5,000,000 dollar steel drawbridge crashed into the Buffalo river in New York State after a 450-ton barge was swept into it on the flood tide.. The bridge held for abopt five minutes after the grain barge struck it but then pulled away from the banks and toppled into the river. No-one was hurt. The floods, which are expected to last until tomorrow afternoon, were caused by heavy rains and soaring temperatures which reached 57 degrees at 4 a.m. G.M.T. Deep snow drifts have plagued communications in the affected areas and hampered power supplies. In Cleveland, Ohio, the local zoo's priceless reptile collection was virtually wiped out by floods —the only survivors of 167 being two tortoises. Water flooded the 10ft deep basement housing the collection in 10 minutes. Another building nearby was also flooded and a valuable Australian crane, sheltering there, was killed. Monkeys in the same building saved themselves by clinging to the tops of their cages.