Flood lessons must never be forgotten

Seventy years ago today -- on May 31, 1935 -- this region was struck by the worst natural disaster in the history of the Republican River Valley. Between the hours of 9 a.m. May 31 and noon the next day, 94 people lost their lives in the flood which damaged 57,000 acres of farmland and caused more than a hundred million dollars (at 2005 values) in damage.

For those living along the river, the raging floodwaters brought horror, heartbreak and heroism.The most tragic losses in the McCook area were suffered by the Charles Miller family, who lived west of McCook near where Frenchman Valley's Perry elevator is now located.

Despite valiant rescue attempts, seven people died: Mrs. Charles Miller, 32; Charles Francis Miller, 9; Virginia May Miller, 4; Claudine Miller, 2; Beverly Miller, an infant; Fred Swanson; and Elizabeth Shook.

Dale Miller and Clyde McKillip, both of McCook, did their best to save the family. After hearing the flood had hit, the pair took off for the Charles Miller place in a boat and helped get the women and children into the attic. With the floodwaters rising, Dale Miller broke a hole in the roof of the house, and hoisted the family to the top. But, soon thereafter, the house started breaking up, and the mother and four of her children were lost in the raging waters.

As Mrs. Miller was engulfed, her last words were, "My God, save my babies!"

There were many more stories of horror and heroism up and down the valley. At the risk of their own lives, Henry Mauer and Charles Kurtz maneuvered a frail rowboat far upstream to rescue Charles Clarine of Oxford. Seventy years old at the time, Clarine was clinging to the top branches of a tree 150 yards from shore. On their way back to land, Mayer rowed past a rooftop and rescued three more stranded people. And those are just a few of hundreds of the stories which are still being told by survivors, most of whom are now in their 80s and 90s.

Ten days after the flood swept through the Republican Valley, the McCook Daily Gazette published a challenge to the area's citizens:

"The spirit of the pioneer built the empire which has been devastated, and that same spirit ... by the sons and daughters ... will build it back.

"It is a crisis which we will look back upon in after years and marvel at the stamina, the courage and resourcefulness of those who put their shoulders to the wheel, refused to become panicky and discouraged, and built again those things which were torn down in this catastrophe."

The writers were right on the mark. The flood inspired flood control efforts throughout the valley, leading to the creation of reservoirs for flood control, irrigation and recreation. But, as we continue to enjoy the lake development, we must not forget the heartbreak and heroism which inspired action in the Republican River Valley. The Flood of 1935 was the worst disaster in the region's history. The lessons it taught must never be forgotten.