In 1936, A Great Flood Swept Through Pittsburgh And Changed The City Forever
March often proves brutal with crushing snow, especially in the Burgh. Who, after all, doesn’t remember the Blizzard of ’93 that dumped nearly two feet of snow on the city and the suburbs in a single day? Back in 1936, Pittsburgh experienced a pretty brutal winter with more than double its normal amount of snowfall. That snow turned out to be the prelude to the great flood in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburghers had it pretty touch during the winter of 1936. The city normally saw 27.7 inches of snow each year by the beginning of March. However, that number swelled to 63 inches in 1936.
But, it wasn't until March 16 that the weather would really wreak havoc on the city. March 16, a balmy day of nearly 45 degrees Fahrenheit, experienced nearly two inches of rain. That rain combined with already-melting snow caused flooding of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers.
Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore, however, didn't experience massive flooding until March 17. On that St. Patrick's Day, the river swelled to 46 feet, more than 21 feet above flood level.
Damage spread from Pittsburgh through the Allegheny River Valley, all the way to Johnstown and beyond. It took more than a week for the flood waters to recede and for the real damage to be assessed.
The death toll stood at 62. More than 500 Western Pennsylvanians were injured. The destruction of homes resulted in more than 130,000 homeless individuals.
Damage costs tallied $250 million as Pittsburgh began the long process of rebuilding. However, the Great Flood of 1936 did lead to some positive changes in Pittsburgh and beyond.
The Great Flood spurred Congress to take action, passing a law to make flood-control projects mandatory. As a result, Pittsburgh and the surrounding area saw the construction of 16 dams to help prevent future flooding.
Reminders of the Great Flood of 1936 remain in Pittsburgh to this day. Markers still show the height of the flood waters on some downtown buildings.
The St. Patrick’s Day Flood in Pittsburgh in 1936 is only one of many unforgettable historical moments. Click here to read about 10 unusual historical facts about the Burgh you might not know.
