001542077 001__ 1542077
001542077 005__ 20241007203159.0
001542077 02480 $$aMSS 247-6179
001542077 037__ $$aDA
001542077 041__ $$aeng
001542077 245__ $$aFlooded area in New Harmony, Indiana
001542077 260__ $$bUniversity of Southern Indiana$$cJanuary 30, 1930
001542077 269__ $$a1930
001542077 347__ $$a300-600 dpi
001542077 520__ $$aTourist's Park looking north showing ice and floodwater.""The Wabash River presented the southwestern region of the State of Indiana with harsh flooding conditions during mid January of 1930. In addition to the already impacted region, subzero temperatures hit a few days after the heavy rainfall, creating even harsher and more dangerous situation for the people of this region. These subzero temperatures created mile long ice gorges along the river that made this somewhat mild flood into one comparable to the one of 1927 along the Mississippi. One of most affected areas in this southern region of the state was Posey County. Since this disaster caused no fatalities, the county was affected mainly economically due to the county�s heavily agricultural based industry."" According to the monthly weather review for January, 1930 the only floods were those of the Wabash- White River system in Indiana, and the St. Francis River of Arkansas. Natural warnings had been given to the Wabash area from the December snow melting from the high temperatures of early January and the rain patterns that began to be heavy into the 14th day into the month. The first few days of this heavy rainfall the average was 2.60 inches over the upper half of the Wabash Valley and 2.90 inches over the lower half. These numbers proved to be significantly lower than those seen in the previous major flood on the Wabash in 1913, but the 15th of January occupied the area with a large temperature drop, making the conditions significantly more complicated and severe for the area of Posey County. These temperatures formed ice gorges, a large one being just south of New Harmony. As if the water wasn�t harsh enough, these ice gorges also contributed toward the destruction and damage to the levees that protected towns in the Posey County area. In The Washington Post on January 22nd, it was recorded that the ice gorges were up to eight miles wide in lower Posey County, were damming up the flood waters that were already over flowing the river�s banks. These ice jams gave fear to the residents in the county that were already enduring the brutal conditions the flood gave them but also the sickness the water and subzero temperatures gave them as well, such as pneumonia, smallpox, and influenza. In a report from the Chicago Dailey Tribune, it was said that there were reports from Mount Vernon that conveyed worry for two families that took refuge in a home that had been submerged in water since the families arrived there. This put residents at an even greater risk along with the loss of resources such as food, water, shelter, and fuel which the flood viciously took from them. The stranded residents of Posey County who mainly owned homes in low lying farm land towns were taking refuge in the upper stories and roofs of homes. While the residents of the areas were seeking refuge, animals were being frozen in the ice forming from the water in barns, and horses and cattle had been without food for weeks, many livestock did not survive long. Though the residents were not forgotten by any of the state relief missions and efforts, the plans for delivering this relief were limited due to the ice gorges." (http://indianadisasters.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-wabash-flood-of-1930-posey-county.html).
001542077 542__ $$fhttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/
001542077 6531_ $$aLocal History
001542077 6531_ $$aPhotographs
001542077 6531_ $$aRegional History
001542077 6531_ $$aRelated Materials -- 1901-1950
001542077 655__ $$aBlack and White Negative
001542077 691__ $$aIndiana
001542077 7001_ $$aUnknown
001542077 8564_ $$9ca056034-af2e-4bde-a049-3689dfb4352a$$s1999641$$uhttps://library.usi.edu/record/1542077/files/2927.jpg
001542077 909CO $$ooai:library.usi.edu:1542077$$pGLOBAL_SET
001542077 914__ $$ap17218coll7
001542077 980__ $$aSpecial & Regional History Collection
001542077 984__ $$aDon Blair Collection
001542077 985__ $$aImage