The Great Flood of 1993 was unusual in other respects. It was wide spread covering nine states and 400,000 square miles. Fifty deaths occurred as a result of the flood . Over 1,000 levees were topped or failed as shown in Table 2.
Why was the 1993 flood unusual?
The Great Midwest Flood of 1993 was unique not only because of the record high water levels and flows and the wide areal extent , but also because of the long duration of flooding. ... The long period of inundation had significant effects on agricultural land and wetlands.
Why was the great 1993 flood not a flash flood?
Uniquely extreme weather and hydrologic conditions led to the flood of 1993. The stage was set in 1992 with a wet fall which resulted in above normal soil moisture and reservoir levels in the Missouri and Upper Mississippi River basins.
What happened in the Great Flood of 1993?
The Great Flood of 1993 occurred from May through September along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and their tributaries . Major flooding occurred across North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois resulting in over 50 deaths and billions of dollars in damages.
How was the Great Flood of 1993 monitored?
Its occurrence in Mississippi River water was tracked by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1991 and 1992 and again in 1993 in response to the flood. Results show that compared to flows in 1991 and 1992, the load (i.e., the total amount trans- ported to the river) was higher in 1993 than in previous years.
How much money did the flood cost the United States in 1993?
The 1993 midwest flood was one of the most significant and damaging natural disasters ever to hit the United States. Damages totaled $15 billion , 50 people died, hundreds of levees failed, and thousands of people were evacuated, some for months.
What was the biggest flood in US history?
Great Mississippi Flood
The Great Mississippi Flood was the most destructive river flood in US history. It covered 27,000 square miles and reached depths of up to 40 feet. Heavy rain kicked off this summer event in Mississippi’s central basin, with tributaries in Iowa and Kansas reaching capacity.
What is the biggest flood ever recorded?
- The size and impact of the Great Flood of 1993 was unprecedented and has been considered the most costly and devastating flood to ravage the U.S. in modern history. ...
- Uniquely extreme weather and hydrologic conditions led to the flood of 1993.
What was the cause of flooding in the 1993 Upper Mississippi River flood quizlet?
What was the cause of flooding in the 1993 upper Mississippi River flood? Persistent thunderstorms caused large amounts of rainfall over a several-state region.
Was the flood of 1993 a flash flood?
Many locations in the nine-state area experienced rain on 20 days or more in July, compared to an average of eight to nine days with rain,“ Larson added. Intense thunderstorms during this time dumped a plethora of rain that not only caused rivers to swell but also triggered severe flash flooding.
What was the financial burden of the 1993 Mississippi flood?
The costs to the nation from the flood were extensive. Thirty-eight deaths were attributed directly to the flood and estimates of fiscal damages ranged from $12 billion to $16 billion . Agriculture accounted for over half of these damages. More than 100,000 homes were damaged.
Which levees held up better during the 1993 flood?
The big urban levees around St. Louis, further downriver at Cape Girardeau, upriver at Hannibal , all of these structures were designed for floods greater than the 1993 flood. And they did the job they were supposed to do.
What are the names of earthen dams that hold a river back from flooding?
Levees may be used to increase available land for habitation or divert a body of water so the fertile soil of a river or sea bed may be used for agriculture. They prevent rivers from flooding cities in a storm surge. But if a levee breaks, the consequences can be disastrous. Levees are usually made of earth.
What caused the flooding in New Orleans to be unique?
The levee and flood wall failures caused flooding in 80% of New Orleans and all of St. Bernard Parish. ... All concur that the primary cause of the flooding was inadequate design and construction by the Corps of Engineers .
Why might logging of a drainage basin change the slope of the river?
Why might logging of a drainage basin change the slope of the river? Increased sediment load causes the river to steepen its gradient to transport more sediment . What type of river channel is characterized by multiple channels and gravel bars? ... Cut banks are sites of erosion, while point bars are sites of deposition.
