EPIC Kansas City West Bottoms Flood Of 1951 Well Remembered

For our late night denizens we take a moment to remember how a natural disaster helped to shape Kansas City. 

Long before the days of blaming everything on "climate change" this weather event defined the lives of the entire metro area.

Here are the basics . . .

In mid-July 1951, heavy rains led to a great rise of water in the Kansas River, Missouri River, and other surrounding areas of the Central United States. Flooding occurred in the Kansas, Neosho, Marais Des Cygnes, and Verdigris river basins. The damage in June and July 1951 across eastern Kansas and Missouri exceeded $935 million (equivalent to $9.76 billion in 2021). The flooding killed 17 people and displaced 518,000 more.

July 13 experienced the single greatest levels of flood and led to the greatest amount of destruction by flood experienced in the Midwest as of that date.

Last year there was a bit deal over the 70th anniversary.

But . . . TOP ECHELON TKC READERS still think it's important to note Kansas City's ongoing battles with the climate weather. 

The West Bottoms flood is one of many reasons Kansas City suffered enjoyed an influx of Latinos on the Westside . . . After they were flooded out of Armourdale.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Hopefully, more for the morning update . . . STAY TUNED!!!

Remembering the great flood of 1951

Mud stuck roughly 20 feet high on the support column of a building in Kansas City, Kansas' Armoudale district is one of many lasting impacts of the floods of 1951. A special exhibit at the Wyandotte County Museum highlight's the flood's 70th anniversary.

1951 Kansas City Flood

Aerial flood view looking south across the Fairfax District toward the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. Smoke at top left is from the fire at 31st and Roanoke/Southwest Boulevard.

1951 Kaw River Flood

During the summer of 1951, heavy rainfall in the Kansas River basin caused extensive flooding. Some areas received 16 inches of rain from July 9-13. As the crest of the floodwaters rapidly moved down the Kansas (also called the Kaw) River, the cities of Manhattan, Topeka and Lawrence suffered severe damage.

Hopefully, we'll have more for the morning update . . . STAY TUNED!!!