Overview of the Mississippi River Flood of 1927
The Mississippi River flood of 1927 ranks as the most destructive river flood in the U.S., affecting 7 states along the Mississippi, stretching from Michigan to Louisiana. It is estimated the floods lasted for over 3 months and resulted in over $400 million worth of damage, approximately $5.3 billion in present-day money. The combination of unusually high amount of precipitation throughout the Mississippi Valley, poor infrastructure, and levee breaks all contributed to the devastation.
Heavy Rainfall
Due to weather patterns during the summer months of 1926 to ’27, large amounts of precipitation began to fall throughout the Mississippi Valley. Mississippi received rainfall up to 105% higher than normal in parts of the state. The heavy rain made drainage in the area impossible and caused the river to regularly overflow its banks. By April 1927, 600 levees had been breached throughout the area, thus overwhelming the smaller cities in the basin.
Inadequate Levee System
The levees in the area were not designed to sustain this amount of flooding and were unable to prevent the rising waters. Most of the levees were only 10-20 feet high, allowing for the rivers to overflow them easily. There were also construction flaws in some of the levees, which contributed to their failure in preventing the flood.
Lack of Modern Flood Control Measures
At the time, the area lacked sufficient flood control measures to prevent the damage caused by the flood. There were not enough dredged channels or dams to help redirect the waters. Also, the drainage system was outdated, making it difficult to move water away from populated areas.
Human Impact
The flood had a significant human impact. It forced more than a million people out of their homes, uprooted many small towns, and caused thousands of deaths. In addition, it caused economic destruction along with destruction of the environment and agriculture. This led to the displacement of many individuals and families.
Response
The federal government responded by sending financial and disaster relief to the affected states. The president also requested aid from the American Red Cross and established the Mississippi River Commission to help protect the area from future disasters. In addition, the Army Corps of Engineers was given authority to make the river safer by strengthening levees and constructing wells.
Long Term Effects
The flood had lasting effects on the region. It resulted in a period of economic depression as the area was unable to recover from the destruction. It also changed the landscape of the area, with many of the small towns that were destroyed in the floods never being rebuilt. In addition, stricter regulations were put in place to help prevent similar flooding in the future.
Mississippi River Infrastructure
To help prevent the future catastrophic floods, the Mississippi River Commission created a set of laws and regulations regarding the infrastructure of the river. These included plans for dredging, deepening, and straightening the channels. They also created a system of locks and dams to control the flow of the river.
Increased Surveillance
Increased surveillance was also implemented to help monitor the river. Several stations were set up in various locations around the basin with the purpose of sending data about the flooding in the area. This allowed for up-to-date information to be used in order to plan for future flooding events.
Public Education
In addition, the Army Corps of Engineers implemented a public education campaign in order to inform people about the dangers of living in the basin. This was done in order to ensure that individuals and families were aware of the risks associated with living in close proximity to the river.
Modern Technology
Modern technology has greatly improved the infrastructure of the Mississippi River, making it more capable of handling large amounts of flooding. Newer levees have been constructed and their designs have been improved in order to provide better protection. Advanced surveillance systems have also been established and give real-time updates to aid in disaster relief.
Environmental Factors
The environmental factors that contributed to the readiness of the river to flood have been addressed in recent years. Sediment accumulation has been minimized by dredging, further flood plains have been permitted, and forested swamps have been converted to wetlands, which absorb the excess water.
Conclusion
The Mississippi River flood of 1927 was devastating for the area and is considered one of the worst natural disasters in the United States. The combination of heavy precipitation, inadequate levees and infrastructure, and lack of modern flood control measures all contributed to the destruction. In the years since, improvements have been made to help protect this region, but the potential for flooding still exists.
