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<br />Pueblo Flood HOZQrd Mitil!tUion PLm <br /> <br />June 3. 1921 Flood <br /> <br /> <br />,,,_'t,,,,~-::: ' <br />,~-:,. :-, "::;->:;', ,.' -''''<'''::''::~:>-:i~F:'-~\::i( ,,":., <br />" ... "'..~"':..A2n-,-.,,>~, <br />~~:;:S:e,~~~~~r~A "'''';'<, <br /> <br />-- <br /> <br />A scene in downto'lVIl Pueblo after the June 3, 1921 Dood. <br /> <br />The levees built after the 1893 and 1894 <br />floods could ~.ot hold the mighty flow of <br />water that cam'~ crashing down the Arkansas <br />River on the night of June 3, 1921. The <br />flood demolished the business dlstrict Over <br />the years the co=unity had rechanneled the <br />river, but the floodwaters returned the river <br />to its origmal course. The co=unity was <br />warned of the flood by curfew sirens, but <br />instead of deterring people, the people came <br />out to watch the flood blast down the <br />Arkansas_ By tb.e time the people of Pueblo <br />realized the magnitude of the flood, it was <br />too late_ The downtown Union Depot high <br />water mark re~ched II feet <br /> <br />Bridges and roads were destroy ed_ The flood <br />cut off all power, telephone service and <br />water pressure_ Sheriff Sarn Thomas swore <br />in 1,500 deputies to guard the city against <br />looters. The army provided men and heavy <br />equipment for over a month to assist in the <br />cleanup work. The flood claimed over 250 <br />lives, 510 homes, 98 business or industnal <br />buildings, 61 stores, 46 locomotives, miles <br />of track and many animals_ Railroad cars <br />were overturned and floated down streets <br />only to crash into buildings. There was an <br />estimated $10 million damage at a time <br />when the city's assessed valuation was $33 <br />million_ It took years for the city to recover. <br /> <br />10 <br />