FLOODS IN THE UNITED STATES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4952, 6 February 1937, Page 4

FLOODS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Keen world sympathy will be extended to the hundreds of thousands of people who are affected by the terrible visitation along the Ohio River. The United States has suffered from many visitations, but the present one is among the worst experienced in the history of the country. The conditions of the people must be heartrending. The weather bureau at Washington estimates that 60,000,000,000 cubic yards of water are spread over the country seeking an outlet to the sea. Towns and villages have disappeared in the submerging element. It will be impossible to estimate what the number of deaths have been, but a recent estimate puts them down at 7000. It will also be impossible to arrive at the damage done, but this must run into millions of dollars. Nearly a million people are homeless, and there is a grave danger of an epidemic. The Federal, State, and city authorities and the American Red Cross are carrying out splendid work, and human fortitude, courage, and resource are being tested to the utmost. Rain, snow and the rigours of winter are added to the miseries of the people. Even the supply of drinking water has created a problem, as oil is impregnated with the flood waters in many parts. The United States recently had another visitation when a large portion of North America had to contend with a drought and dust storms which ruined thousands of farmers. The American Red Cross is carrying out splendid work on behalf of the distressed people. This organisation has a voluntary membership of over 4% million men and women, and last year it recorded the task of providing relief for half a million victims of tornadoes and floods which struck the Eastern States in the preceding spring, with the assistance of 8,000,000 dollars provided by the people. When the full story of the present disaster is told it will reveal a record of- fortitude and heroic effort for fellow-beings in their dire extremity.