With an “atmospheric river” rain storm in the forecast, I couldn’t help but think about the flood of 1964. Around this time in June 58 years ago, the Flathead River rose to 26.5 feet. Flowing at over 12 feet past flood stage, this is the largest recorded flood in the Flathead Watershed.
There was an above-average snowpack that year coupled with a warm wind coming out of the Gulf of Mexico. Add in multiple consecutive days of heavy rain and it was the perfect storm. It did immense damage to many homes, farms, bridges, and roads. No lives were lost in the Flathead Valley but hundreds of head of cattle were washed down the river. There were 31 casualties on the east side of the mountains many of them children. 30 of the deaths were in Browning, Montana on the Blackfeet Reservation, and 1 man died in Augusta, Montana.
A total area of about 12,000 miles was affected by this disaster and the damage cost around $64 million back then, which equals close to $474 million today. It’s important to reflect on the history of your area, especially for us folks in the business of being river rats. A reminder of just how powerful water and mother nature can be.
Follow this link to read some first-hand accounts from the Flood of 64′.
Do you know how powerful your watershed is?
Here is a compilation of news articles from the aftermath.
