Historical Marker

The 1937 Flood

Historical marker location:

Paducah, Kentucky

( 29th & Jefferson, Paducah)

The Ohio Valley Flood of 1937 was the greatest natural disaster in the history of the U.S. and drove over one million citizens from their homes. This location marks the water's western edge in Paducah at the height of the flood, February 2, 1937.90% of the city was inundated, 27,000 people were evacuated and damage exceeded $22,000,000.

Reverse

The 1937 Flood - The 1937 Flood could not happen again in Paducah because of the flood wall, the chain of TVA Dams, and other upstream reservoirs. In all, flood control has cost TVA almost $200,000,000. Paducah's $8,000,000 flood wall was built by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, is twelve miles long and protects the city to a height of three feet above the 1937 flood level. Presented by Gresham Hougland.