In the spring of 1927 when all the snow of the past winter began to melt, the Mississippi River, naturally, began to rise as it had every spring. However, this time the melting, when coupled with weeks of endless rain and recent land abuse, caused the river to rise beyond its natural capacity; the flood that resulted was one of the most devastating in history.
      In the end seven states were affected, but Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas bore the brunt of the disaster. Over 16,570,620 acres were lost to the waters. About 162,000 homes received extensive water damage, and 9,000 homes were completely lost to the flood.
      People of every class and race were left helpless, and in many cases homeless. The only place that they had to turn was to each other, and so they did. Young and old, rich and poor. Everyone had a part to play.

• The American Red Cross helped 325,554 refugees in camps, and fed another 311,922 people in their own homes.

• The U.S. Departments of War, Navy, Treasury, Agriculture, and Commerce; the Veterans Bureau, the National Guard, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Rockefeller Foundation, and other state and local agencies all pitched in to assist in clean-up and recovery.

• One man single-handedly rescued, in two days, over 200 people stranded on their rooftops.

• Two children put on a backyard play and raised $3.12 to donate to the Red Cross flood fund which eventually accumulated $17 million in relief money.

• Private monetary contributions totaled $17,498,902.16.

• Government monetary contributions totaled $6,129,000.

Missouri River . Mississippi River . Red River . Bibliography

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