The 1948 Columbia River Flood

In 1948, the Columbia River unleashed its second-worst flood ever, surging at double its normal speed and drowning towns, farms, and infrastructure across the Pacific Northwest. Vanport, Oregon, was obliterated under 15 feet of water, killing 15 and displacing 18,000. President Truman responded by ordering flood control plans, while Congressman Russell V. Mack gathered community input. By 1949, Mack’s bill passed Congress, allocating $36 million to upgrade dikes and drainage systems—with local control over implementation. Major investments, like $1.5 million for Vancouver Lake’s levees, aimed to protect 10,000 acres and pave the way for economic recovery, ensuring the region wouldn’t face such devastation again. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/dd6c5c02fd4416f4