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The Flood That Erased a City By: Kathy Manney / Around Our World Northern California and the Pacific Northwest have experienced abundant rain this year, weather comparable to 1948, when an entire Oregon town was obliterated on Memorial Day. Metropolitan Portland was warm. Mountain snow, spring rains and above normal temperatures brought severe flooding along the Columbia River. My mom was a long-distance telephone operator in Portland. Living in Vancouver, Washington her daily commute took her across the Columbia River’s Interstate Bridge, past Vanport. The community of Vanport, Oregon’s second largest city, named for its location between Portland and Vancouver, has been demolished by flooding water from the Columbia River resulting in a collapse of the dike protecting Vanport’s west side. Every long distance switchboard became jammed with callers, as Vanport submerged in 10 to 20 feet of rubble-laden water. Surging flood water propelled whole apartment units through two main artery roads leading to the Interstate Bridge, cutting off bridge approaches. Sheltered on river lowlands by a protective railroad fill dike, Vanport was swiftly constructed to accommodate shipyard workers during World War II. It remained a thriving community – until the dike gave. The teeming river inundated a large section of north Portland. Portland’s square white two-story commercial airport, erected near the river, stood strong. A water line later showed near its roof. The building still stands and is home to the National Weather Service. Thoroughfares connecting Portland and Vancouver disappeared. The Interstate Bridge connecting Oregon and Washington closed to all but emergency traffic. With train, mail and wire services severed, Vancouver was instantly inaccessible. Flood conditions lasted 20-days. Clean-up was slow. Relics sat open and withered like scattered bones. Debris entwined in trees and telephone wires. Vanport remains the most destructive disaster in Columbia River history. A transitional war time community without generations of families, Oregon’s once second largest city was never reconstructed. With rich intricate wetlands and sloughs, Vanport’s marsh river lowlands are today considered an environmentally sensitive area. The flood that erased a town, forever inscribed in those who experienced it, their remembrances a slice of Oregon first-person history. 24 May 2017 Kathy Manney enjoys visiting interesting places and being an Adventure Diva. Her “Must See” travel journeys continue - always with enthusiasm.