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<br />Destruction and Devastation: The Floods of June '72 <br /> <br />CONTENTS <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />The Erratic Route of Hurricane Agnes. . . . . . . . . . <br />(photos, maps) <br />Ravishing of Rapid City. . . . . . . . . , , . . . . . . 14 <br />California, Here She Comes. . . ... . . ... . . . .... 18 <br />21 <br />24 <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />Formerly Arid Arizona. . <br /> <br />Hurricanes-Past, Present, Future. . . . . . . . . . . . . . <br /> <br />Status of flood Insurance... . . .. . . . . .. . . . .... 27 <br /> <br />We are indebted to the prompt action and the long <br />hours spent by CAB employees in the development of <br />this informalion which we (eel may be of value to <br />the entire insurance field. Appreciation is also ex- <br />tended to the U.S. Weather Bureau for its cooperation <br />in making this booklet possible. <br /> <br />GID <br /> <br />GENERAL ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, INC. <br />'123 William Street <br />New York, N.Y. 10038 <br />(2"12) 964-3300 <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />June, 1972 will long be notorious as the month of the most <br />widespread flood disasters in the nation's recorded history. <br />Devastating (Ioods concentrated on the Eastern coastal areas <br />from Florida north, through Virginia, Pennsylvania, North <br />Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New York and Connecticut as a <br />result of Hurricane Agnes. June's weather also brought rains that <br />broke a dam in Rapid City, S.D., a dike broke in California and <br />severe and untimely rains and windstorms smashed Arizona. <br />Financially, it is estimated that damages alone may reach the <br />$2-billion mark. <br />As soon as it became evident that a tragedy of major propor- <br />tions was developing, CAB instructed all its offices in or near <br />the affected areas to make surveys of damage and destruction. <br />Reports of their findings were put together in a preliminary <br />report including an estimate of damages. <br />GAB, in its service 10 the insurance industry, felt that the <br />factual data bearing on these floods and their aftermath would <br />be of interest to the industry, both for historical purposes and <br />in Ihe hope that lessons might he learned which could be turned <br />10 the advantage of the business and to the country and its <br />people at some future dale. <br />While much o( the damage occasioned by these horrendous <br />rains was not covered by insurance (see section on flood insur- <br />ance, page 271, many major risks provided for flood protection. <br />In addition, insurance coverage is afforded on boats, mobile <br />homes, automobiles, construction equipment and some items in <br />transit. <br />The following information constitutes a summary of the <br />material developed by CAB. It represents a great deal of work <br />done under pressure by a great many people. To tbem GAB <br />is grateful. <br /> <br />>. <br />