The Great Mississippi River Flood of 1993

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1993, also known as the Great Flood of 1993, is considered unparalleled in magnitude, extent and impact and was possibly the costliest and most devastating flood to ever impact the U.S. The paper reveals that fifty deaths were reported and the total damage cost was estimated at $20 billion. The paper looks closely at the damage sustained by the land, plants, birds and animals.

From the Paper:

"This record flooding occurred from May to September 1993 across North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois (Larson 1996). Its magnitude and severity were so overwhelming that the Flood ranks as one of the greatest natural disasters to hit the US. Around 600 river forecast points in the Midwest were above the flood stage all at the same time. It affected almost 150 major rivers and tributaries. Fifty flood deaths were reported (Larson). Causes or factors of the Great Flood were attributed the saturation of soils and increased stream levels in the fall of 1992, the snowpack in the central US, heavy rainfall in late March, the saturation of the northern ends of the Missouri River and an unusually persistent weather pattern from June to early August (Larson)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Gomez, Basil, et al. Sediment Characteristics of an Extreme Flood: 1993 Upper Mississippi River Valley, 1995. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~fjmagill/geology_ms_miss_pdf
• Gutin, James E. Effect of 1993 Flood on Plant and Animal Life. Discover, 1994. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_n1_v15/ai_14902683
• Kolva, James R. Effects of the Great Midwest Flood of 1993 on Wetlands. US Geology Survey, 2002. http://www.usgs.gov/nwsum/WSP2425/flood.html
• Knutson, Melinda and Klaas, Erwin E. Declines in Abundance of Species, Richness of Birds Following a Major Flood in the Upper Mississippi River. The Auz: American Orinthologists Union, 1997. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1076/is_n10_v35/ai_14687892
• Larson, Lee W. The Great USA Flood of 1993. Office of Hydrology National Weather Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/floods/papers/ch_2/great.htm

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