|
<br />N. NORTH BRANCH OF THE ELKHORN RIVER. NEBRASKA
<br />(Tdbutary of the, Elkhorn River)
<br />
<br />Flood of 25-28 March' 1951
<br />
<br />1. Cause.- This flood resulted 'from runoff of snowmelt
<br />and scmerain, and Was aggravated toa small extent by'ice in the
<br />channel which, in'addition to impeding 'flow, formed minor blocks
<br />in some places.
<br />
<br />2. Extent.- Overbank flcw occurred on the North Branch of
<br />,the Elkhorn River from the vicinity cf Osmond, Nebraska, to the
<br />mouth and reached' a maxilllUlll width of about one'mile just below
<br />Pierce, Nebraska. Overbank flow ranging from 500 to 800 feet in
<br />width also occurred along tributary streams as follows. Dry Creek,
<br />from east of Plainview, Nebraska, to the mouth; the lower four
<br />miles of Willow Creek; and along the lower six miles of Yankton
<br />Slough.
<br />
<br />3. Duration.-' The period of flooding lasted about three days.
<br />
<br />4. 'Sta~es and dischar/l:es.- No official stream gaging staticns
<br />are operated on the North Branoh of the Elkhorn River and no slope
<br />area determinations were made of the probable' crest flow. The City
<br />Engineer of Norfolk, Nebraska, stated, hcwever, that this flood
<br />was about 3 feet lower than the crest stage experienced in May 1944,
<br />the worst flood of record at that point.
<br />
<br />5. Dama~es.- The total area inundated was estimated at
<br />9,800 acres.' 'Except for the municipal areas, at Norfolk, Nebraska,
<br />Pierce, Nebraska, and Osmcnd, Nebraska, ,the inundated areas 'are'
<br />devoted mainly to agrioulture. Crop losses were small, as the
<br />greater portion of,the land was unplanted; however, the spreading
<br />of weed seeds and debris will c'ause considerable loss. The 'base-
<br />ments' and grounds of approximately 20 farmsteads were ,flooded' to
<br />shallow"depths and some stored feed"was damaged. No loss of "live-
<br />stock was reported,'Tra'nsportation"damage' was relatively ,light;.;
<br />No railroad' closures occurred. :,lit the vi{linity of Norfolk,U.-S.
<br />Highway No. 81 was overtopped for 4,000 feet and closed'to traffic
<br />for 2 days. East of Norfolk,U. S. HighwaY,No. 275 was ,overtopped
<br />for a short distance and traffic was' slowed ,for one day', Tn 'the
<br />same vicinit~ State Highway No. 24 sustained shoulder,w~sh and
<br />culvert damage. North of Norfolk, county roads'were' o~ertopped
<br />at points of bridge crossings in 48 localities and rendered im-
<br />passable for,about 4 days.' Municipal damages were severe. At
<br />Osmcnd, the grounds and basements of8 homes'were:'flooded. In
<br />the town of Pierce, practically the entire residential area east
<br />cf the Chicago and Northwestern Railway tracks alj~ :,tl\~,town park
<br />were inundated. 35 homes and 7 small business places were affected,
<br />and l5:"FersOns moVei'l 'fr.pm their~ :hpmes because of flooding. Two fire
<br />stations, a State Highway repair shop, streets, alleys, and the
<br />park sustained damag-e. In the' northeast porti'on of Nori'olk, approxi-
<br />mately30qity block;L:were f:l:Q~illi to shall:oVidepths.""Basements
<br />and grounds of 60 residences were flooded, and 8 of these sustained
<br />foundation failures~"The audieri{l~ area ofa 'largedrivb-in theater
<br />
<br />20
<br />
|