The winter of 1951-52 set the stage for a catastrophic flood that would be etched in the memories of Pierre and Fort Pierre residents. Heavy snowfall of 75.8 inches blanketed the Pierre area between October and March – nearly three times the average.
As spring arrived, higher temperatures rapidly melted the snow, causing creeks and rivers to overflow into the Missouri. By April 3, 1952, the Missouri River's level reached 17 feet, just two feet above the flood stage of 15 feet. The ice broke on April 4, and the river dropped to 13.8 feet, but a historic wave of water in North Dakota was making its way south as the Missouri River at Bismarck crests at 27.90 feet on April 6th.
April 7: Warnings and Preparations
The temperature climbs to 58 degrees and the river rises to 16.61 feet. Pierre and Fort Pierre residents receive word that the Missouri River is expected to rise to its highest stage in 71 years. Home and business owners are still wary after seeing the Mighty Mo crest at 19.65 feet on April 6, 1943, and are making plans for a water level of 22 feet. Sandbagging efforts begin and a dike is erected for the anticipated historic crest. Fort Pierre had already been experiencing flooding due to the rise of the Bad River which runs through the town.
April 8: The River Surges
The residents of Pierre and already flooded Fort Pierre were told that a crest of 22.4 feet on the Missouri was likely on April 10th. People continue sandbagging and erecting dikes for the anticipated historic crest. Water continued to creep up on buildings in Pierre. Plans were made for evacuating, housing, and feeding residents who may be forced from their homes. In Fort Pierre, waters rose to two feet on seven blocks of the main street.
April 9: Record Flooding Hits Pierre
Record flood waters poured into Pierre. The flood stage of 22.87 feet was recorded. Most businesses in downtown Pierre were surrounded by water, in places up to three feet deep. Pierre’s main water well and power plant were diked and above flood stage, so power and water were not lost. Fort Pierre was not so lucky, as power failed shortly after 10 a.m. when water reached the generators. Officials predict the Missouri would reach the 25-foot stage. People in both towns were evacuated from their homes. Kenneth Darmer of the US Geological Survey told the Argus Leader that the Missouri was disgorging the largest volume on record. When the stage was only 20 feet, the volume was 306,000 cubic feet per second. The previous record at Pierre was 281,000 per second feet.
April 10: Historic Crest
A historic crest of the Missouri of 25.35 was set at Pierre. Houses close to the river in Fort Pierre were completely submerged. Water continues to be up to four feet in the business section of Pierre. The Argus Leader reported that Army “ducks” and Coast Guard boats hauled goods from flooded stores and evacuated residents of flood-swept homes. The Locke Hotel of Pierre made 120 rooms available for volunteer workers but could only be accessed by boat. The Red Cross estimated that about 1,600 people were homeless. A Coast Guard helicopter was called to rescue isolated ranchers 10 miles up the river.
April 11: Ongoing Struggle
Water still covered downtown businesses with a depth of up to three feet. The official reading on the river gauge was 24.75 feet. Officials called for the Missouri to drop to 23 feet by April 12th. Fort Pierre continues to be submerged with only the Bell Telephone Exchange building escaping the flood waters. The town continued to be supplied by emergency generators. Plans are made for people in both communities to return to their homes once the waters recede.
April 12: Waters Begin To Recede
The Mighty Mo drops to 21.9 feet, still seven feet over the flood stage. Water still covered about 50 blocks and parts of the main business section of Pierre.
April 13: The Aftermath
The Missouri stood at 20.95. With the water slowly receding, residents of Pierre and Fort Pierre began the task of cleaning up. Robert Hipple, editor of the Pierre Capital Journal, said the flood waters weakened the foundations on many buildings in Pierre and would have to be replaced. Mayors of Pierre and Fort Pierre met with Gov. Sigurd Anderson to discuss asking for federal money to rebuild. The main flood threat shifts south of Yankton, Sioux City, and Omaha.
The loss to homes and businesses in both towns of the 1952 flood was enormous. In Fort Pierre, 50 homes were destroyed, and more than 100 more were damaged by the one-two punch of the Bad River and the Missouri.
In Pierre, the loss was estimated at $2 million, with major damage to 104 homes and minor damage to another 111. The flood engulfed 30 blocks of Pierre. 1,600 residents were driven from their homes.
85-year-old Fort Pierre resident Charles Fales was asked if anyone had seen more water on the Missouri. He replied, “Only Noah.”
The Mighty Mo has only seen two other historic crests come close to the 1952 level, 23 feet on March 1, 1881, and 19.88 feet on June 22, 2011.
Other Media:
South Dakota Historical Society - Photos of the 1952 Pierre Flood
