STAGGERING FLOOD LOSSES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20640, 1 February 1937, Page 7

STAGGERING FLOOD LOSSES

ROLLING TIDE OF DEATH RIVERS REACH RECORD VOLUME FIRE ADDS TERROR TO DEVASTATION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 31, 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 30. At a special meeting of the flood commission at Washington on Monday, Mr Roosevelt will announce a threefold plan for immediate small scale financial aid for the needy from Red Cross funds, which have already reached 6,417,000 dollars, Government loans aid for storekeepers whose stocks have been damaged and Federal housing loans to restore homes. Rising Tide Of Losses The latest figures furnished by the Red Cross reveal 400 dead, 400,000,000 dollar property damage. 800,000 homes flooded, 572.000 persons- homeless and 236,000 persons marooned. The Weather Bureau at Washington indicated that the average annual flood damage in the United States between 1905 and 1935 was 89 lives and forty million dollars. Last year’s property damage by floods already is 25 per cent below the present, in which it is estimated that 60.000,000.000 tons of water is trying to seek the sea. Rain is predicted to-morrow in the Ohio river valley. Occasional rain showers fell in the lower Mississippi to-day. Engineers Deeply Concerned Two earth tremors in the Memphis area sent engineers hurriedly to check the levees which, however, were unharmed. Mr Craig said that, conservatively optimistic, they were going to hold the entire river but he reiterated that they were prepared to evacuate from Cairo to New Orleans if necessary. Tire river gauge at Memphis registered 47 feet, and the waters produced so-called “got spot” in various levees, which caused consternation among engineers. The river threatened to overflow at Hickman, Kentucky, to-night, and the evacuation of livestock and the removal of household goods has begun on a 200 mile front from Hickman to White river in Arkansas. Restoring Heavy Damage Almost overlooked in the greater horror of Ohio’s devastation, reports are now coming of great damage in Tennessee, Arkansas and Nashville. There is considerable privation as a result of the Cumberland river overflowing. Cities along the northern reaches of the Ohio, to-day began to report rehabilitation. Cincinnati optimistically broadcast business as usual. Louisville is greatly cheered by the receding waters. Evansville is half under water, with as much as twelve feet and still rising, but not so swiftly as before. The fight against disease continues unabated, 200,000 persons being inoculated against typhoid in Louisville alone. Thirteen million units of serum vaccines of all kinds have been sent to the flooded areas.

MISSISSIPPI’S RISING FLOOD

FLOODS REACH HIGHEST LEVEL ON RECORD United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 21, 8 p.m.) CHICAGO, January 30. With the crest of flood still in the river, the Mississippi has risen to a higher stage than any hitherto reported. Cairo is preparing to meet the crest on Wednesday. To-night it lay on an island amid raging waters. The Ohio is crawling towards the 59 foot stage, with an expected crest of 61 feet, which is unprecedented. North of Cairo, in the so-called Little Egypt, the smaller communities, notably Mound City, were evacuated when the flood waters backed up inundating them. One hundred and thirty-one thousand acres of South-Eastern Missouri were flooded as a result of the opening of the levees. The complete evacuation of Paducah, 8000 inhabitants of which remained to-day, has been ordered, forcibly if necessary, in order that when the Ohio’s crest strikes on Tuesday, the danger to human life will be obviated. In Path of Rolling Flood Memphis is in the path of a rolling flood tide, but is confident that her situation on the higher ground will save her. It is a city of refugees, 2500 of whom come from the flooded Arkansas lowlands, Tennessee river points and even the lower Mississippi delta. More than 115,000 men are strengthening the Memphis dyke area. Fourteen 'Memphis schools have been ordered to be closed to handle refugees. Five hundred flood sufferers are in hospital for the treatment of influenza, pneumonia, typhoid and smallpox.

TERRORS OF FLOATING FIRE

RIVER CITIES IN DANGER United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—CoDvrlerbr (Received January 31, 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 30. A blanket of gas from punctured mains covered the inundated waterfront at Cincinnati to-night. Fire Chief Houston described the fire peril as deadlier than anything Cincinnati had ever faced. The danger increased by the presence of millions of gallons of petrol on the water. A smoking ban has been established throughout the entire region. Even passengers in trains passing through the city are prohibited from smoking. Fire Chief Houston issued a warning to the cities downstream, that the petrol would float there eventually, if not ignited at Cincinnati. "One spark,” he said, “and the industrial section of Cincinnati and most of the suburban

town would be surrounded by fire.” The Federal engineers have been asked to consult the city authorities to decide the best methods to remove the danger. The river has fallen two feet, but it is expected it will be another week before downtown business can be resumed. The hospital superintendent at Lounsville (Mr Buschmeyer) predicted that the death roll would run far above the estimates. He said he believed 400 bodies had already been prepared for burial. Mr Miller insisted that the toll would not be more than 190. Ohio Breaks Levees The Flood Control headquarters at Memphis has reported that the Ohio river has broken through the levee, five miles north of Cairo, and is threatening to cut off the city from the north, the only remaining exit to the area. It is believed, however, that the break will probably relieve the tremendous pressure on the 64 foot seawall behind the city, which lies 40 feet below the level of the flooded rivers The schools in Memphis have been closed, in order to use the buildings as shelters for refugees. In Louisville, the estimated flood loss there alone is 100,000,000 dollars. Three-fourths ol the streets are yet under water.