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"The flood that has ravaged the Trinidad area this week should be the flood to end all floods. In its widespread effects it was without doubt the most devastating one in the community history, although some of the older citizens recall that the flood of 1904 was one they remember for the damage done... ...What stands out to the credit of our city is the remarkable mobilization of manpower which was rushed into action... Police, firemen, highway patrol, sheriff's staff, doctors and all service agencies responded, and assistance was made available or offered by outside communities... Our citizens pitched in and did whatever was needed to be done. The somewhat grim irony of the disaster is that only a few days ago folks were hoping and praying for rain to come as a blessing to the dust-plagued land. When the rain did come, it came like a monster seeking what it might destroy. We have viewed the tragedy of a flood. There should be a way to avert another one" (Reference 4). Flood problems in the area have been the result of not only rare storm events, but also improper flood plain development. Visual accounts of floods have noted the debris which was picked up by the flood waters: natural debris of trees, rock, and soil, and mostly items foreign to the flood plain such as houses, bridges, automobiles, heavy equipment, lumber, house trailers, butane storage tanks, and other flotsam. With these items plugging bridges and culverts, flood levels rise and cause more extensive damage. Property that was not structurally damaged by flood depths and velocities experienced much damage and clean up cost related to mud and silt deposition and property erosion. Scenes of past flooding in Trinidad and Starkville are shown in Figures 2-13 (Reference 5). 10