What caused the 1972 Rapid City flood?
Severe flooding of residential and commercial properties in Rapid City occurred when Canyon Lake Dam became clogged with debris and failed in the late evening hours of June 9 resulting in 238 deaths and 3,057 injuries. Over 1,335 homes and 5,000 automobiles were destroyed.
How many people died in the flood in Rapid City SD?
238 people
It’s the deadliest weather event in Rapid City history. The 1972 Rapid City flood ripped through town, and much of the Black Hills 49 years ago this week. In total, 238 people were killed, and $165 million in damage was done.
Does South Dakota flood a lot?
Whether they’d be classified as 100-year floods or not, South Dakota had a lot of flooding in 2019. The state has had more than 700 flood events in the past two years. NOAA said 202 flood events were recorded in 2018. KELOLAND News reported a record 39.17 inches of rain was recorded.
Does South Dakota have floods?
Flooding began on the James River in South Dakota early last spring. Flooding continues on the river a year later after a record-wet 2019 in the Dakotas.
What formed the Black Hills of South Dakota?
The Black Hills were formed by an uplift that occurred near the end of the Cretaceous Period or the beginning of the Paleogene Period, 65-70 million years ago. The uplift created an elliptical dome, at the center of which is a crystalline core, composed of the oldest rocks in the hills.
When did South Dakota flood?
How much rain fell during the Rapid City Flood of 1972? The rainfall event that befell the Black Hills region of South Dakota on June 9th and 10th was remarkable. Over much of the region, 10 or more inches of rain fell over an area of about 60 square miles. In some areas, up to 15 inches of rain fell.
Why is SD flooding?
Flooding continues on a river in South Dakota nearly a year after it was first triggered by heavy rain and snowmelt from a Plains bomb cyclone last March. There is a 50% or greater chance of major flooding on the James River at some point through April, according to a long-term flood risk outlook from NOAA.
Does the Missouri River flood South Dakota?
The Midwestern United States experienced major floods in the spring of 2019, primarily along the Missouri River and its tributaries in Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota, Iowa, and Kansas.
Where is flooding most common in the US?
10 States Most at Risk of Flooding.
When did the Black Hills flood in South Dakota?
On June 9-10, 1972, extremely heavy rains over the eastern Black Hills of South Dakota produced record floods on Rapid Creek and other streams in the area. Nearly 15 inches of rain fell in about 6 hours near Nemo, and more than 10 inches of rain fell over an area of 60 square miles.
How big was the flood in Rapid City SD?
By 7:30 pm, the mayor of Rapid City was notified of an imminent flash flood. Around 10:45 pm, Canyon Lake Dam failed, and flood waters rushed through Rapid City. By 12:15 am on June 10th, water was pouring into the city at a rate of 50,000 cubic feet per second. In some places, water rose as much as 3.5 feet in just fifteen minutes.
What was the total cost of the Rapid Creek flood?
Of the 23 bridges that crossed Rapid Creek, 15 were completely destroyed, and rail lines were damaged. After the flood water receded, the total amount of damages caused by the catastrophe came to $160 million dollars (in 1972 dollars, this was the equivalent of nearly $940 million today).
When did the dam fail in Rapid City SD?
Flood waters that reached Rapid City above Canyon Lake Dam between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m. on June 9 carried large amounts of debris that clogged the spillway of Canyon Lake Dam. The dam at Canyon Lake failed at about 10:45 p.m.