FLOODS IN AMERICA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22834, 19 March 1936, Page 9

FLOODS IN AMERICA

THREE STATES AFFECTED 10SS OF LIFE REPORTED NEW YORK, March 17. . (Received March 18, at 11 p.m.) Sudden floods following heavy downpours swept across sections of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia to-day, causing thousands of people to flee from their homes, and are doing widespread damage. At least ten persons have perished and perhaps many more. The most serious situation appears to be at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where over 2000 persons lost their lives in a Hood which occurred in 1889. ' This city, of 75,000 inhabitants, is situated at the convergence of two rivers, and to-night, according to telephonic reports received by the New York Times, the streets are eight feet under water, with all transportation and most of the communications cut off, recalling the past disaster. The water in some parts reached a height of 20 feet. Many persons are in a panic, but the engineers reported that the dams protecting the city are holding fast, although the waters are rising. It is reported that at least ten persons perished at Johnstown. The surround-' ing hills are crowded with refugees. The city of Buffalo, a few hundred miles northward, suffered 24 inches of snow, which wrecked a large ice skating rink.