FLOOD08156

• County: Logan
• Community: Sterling
• Stream Name: South Platte River
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: History of Flooding in the Sterling Area, 1921-1968
• Date: 9/1/1982
• Prepared For: Logan County
• Prepared By: Ali Izadian
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Documentation Report

page 38

"The flood flow is about equal to the big flood of 1935,"
Littler said after conferring with John Samples, "ateI'
commissioner at Fort Morgan.
"There are more trees and debris in the river this time,
and the water could get higher than in 1935."
Homes between the railroad track and the river are in
the greatest danger, Littler said.
Property on the other side of the tracks was not in
immediate danger, but it's difficult to predict the course
of a flood, Littler said.
"I don't think the flood will come into Sterling,"
Littler said.
However, conditions could change if the waters cascade
to the north at Merino. This did not happen in 1935, but
it is more likely to happen this time because of the heavy
debris in the river.
"If this happens, Merino, Atwood and Sterling; coulel get
water," Littler said.
The South Platte measured 50,000 second feet in 1935.
Thursday when the overflow was minor, the mea.surement
was 20,000 second feet.
Residents up and down the river made preparations for
the worst.
Atwood, already flooded once this week, was bussing with
activity this morning.
Homes were evacuated. One of the first to move out
was the Ray Magill family. They went to the Atwood school.
Other families quickly followed. Some went to the
school house and others left town to find shelter with
friends or relatives.
Perry Mason, janitor at the Atwood school, cleared away
buses so people could move into the school.
"We don't know if the flood will come in, but people
are easy to convince now because of the Pawnee flood,"
Mason said.
"It's too late to move when a foot of water is already
in the house.
"Most of the families here are going to homes of friends
who live on higher ground."
Merino was taking the potential threat more in stride.
A Journal-Advocate reporter this morning found no evidence
of a mass evacuation from Merino.
Two Highway Patrolmen and two Logan. County Highway
department men were posted at the Merino bridge across the
South Platte to sound the alert when the waters hit there.
Patrolman Howard McFarland was stationed at the Atwood
bridge.
"If we Can keep the flood waters south of the highway,
we'll be lkay," McFarland said. "If we can't, Sterling will
get considerable water," he predicted.
Today's flooding waters were triggered by the collapse
of the Agate dam west of Fourt Morgan and the rush of waters
from tributary creeks into the Platte in that region.
Homes along the river were evacuated this morning.
Sterling authorities ordered full-scale disaster preparations.
Red Cross set up emergency feeding headquarters at Sterling
Country Club. Manager Jim Kappler laid in an extra supply of
food.