FLOOD09924 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Flood Descriptions Following are descriptions of known large floods that have occurred ~n tha ~urgatoire River in the vicinity of Trinidad, including excerpts from locally published news accounts, that direct and indirect damages amounted to $400,000, TOday, tne flood of April 1942 ranks as the second largest of record in Trini- dad's unenviahle flood history. May 19, 1955 - This flood's disastrous effects were exceptionally severe at Trinidad and nearby Starkville; early area damage estimates reached as high as $4 million. OVer 141 residences, busineSses, and public buildings were damaged, and seven residences were destroyed. ~ajor damage occurred to transportation facilities, utilities, and river bank protaction works. Most tragic, however, a youth of 18 and an adult WOman lost their lives. considerable urban damage occurred at Starkville from Raton Creek where 19 residential units, four businesses, and a church were damaged. The water lines supplying the town were damaged and water had to be hauled in for about two months. On May 20, the editorial page of the Trinidad Chron- icle News offered the following thought-pro~king commentary: September -10. 1904 - lXlring this flood, the Purgatoire River attained an estimated peak discharge of 45,400 cubic feet per second, the greatest discharge ever recorded at Trinidad. Regional communication, transportation, and public utility installations were severeiy damaged and essential services were interrupted. Within Trinidad, the floodwaters overflowed both residential and commercial areas, washed out four bridges, and swept the Santa Fe Depot entirely away. Estimated losses in the city ranged from $350,000 to 8500,000. July 22, 1925 _ According to the Trinidad Chronicle News on July 23, 1925: "Trinidad was swept by the most thre<ltening flood of 20 years'between the hours of 6:30 and 9 o'clock last night when, after a series of. cloudbursts here and up the river, the Purga- toire river...inundated a fairly large area of the city... Scores of people along the river course were forced to leave their homes. The Santa Fe Depot and Cardenas Hotel property were under water... ~ine Street and ~evada ~venue became a lake and hundreds of people were marooned with hundreds of autos and cut off during the period of the . . . flood. ...aggreg"-ted"'''''''lefromtheflooois'l,-....t...themost''''vere since190<l," 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 sorne of the older citi~ens recall that the flood of 1904 was One they rv~ernber for the da~aoe done... .. ...h..t ~"",['.<i" oUt to the credit of our city is the remarkable mobilization of manpower ~hich 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 o~tside communities... OUr citizena pitched in and did whatever was aeeded 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 miqht de"troy. We haVe viewed the tragedy of a flood. There should be a way to avert another one. April 23, 1942 - "Torrents Rage Thru Channel to Sub- merge Upper End of Cityt.:nder tayer of Mud..nd Water," said the Trinidad Chronicle News' leading article caption of April 23, 1942. "...1'WooftheprincipalbridgesinTrinidaddernolished,others undermined--highways and railroad lines washed out, and train and motor traffic halted in all directions: telephone and other public services damaged and seriously interrupted; uncalculated damage to important business property...the city water service system sustained damage..." Afterthefloodwatersoubsided,adam<>gesurveyihdicated . . . Scenes of da~ages inflicted by historic floods of the past.He .b;.wn in Figures 2 through S on pages t"-at fo11o.... , ,