The Great Dayton Flood of 1913: 14 things to know about broken levees, rescue boats and lost lives

No way to keep up. The storm began with 58 mph wind gusts on March 21, 1913. Then on March 23, Easter Sunday, the rain began dumping 8 to 11 inches over a five-day period. Two days later, with the Great Miami River rising nearly two feet an hour, the levees failed.

» READ MORE: Dispatches describe ruin of the 1913 flood

A bustling city. In 1913, Dayton had 117,000 residents, making it the 43rd-largest city in the nation. It had endured 10 major floods, rebuilt the earthen levees each time and seemed to regard occasional flooding as the price of prosperity.

Water, water everywhere. The levees couldn’t withstand the sheer volume of water from the Great Miami and its tributaries — 250,000 cubic feet of water per second through a channel with a capacity for 25,000 cubic feet. The amount of water that passed through the river channel in Dayton equaled the amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls in a four-day period.

Lost lives. The exact number of deaths in Dayton is uncertain. The official coroner's report listed only 92, but some bodies were never recovered. The National Weather Service estimates the true number at somewhere between 98 and 123.

Many without homes. The storm displaced 65,000 from their homes. Property damage reached $100 million in 1913 dollars ($2 billion in today’s economy), and more than 1,000 homes were destroyed.

Floating south. The Barney & Smith Car Company shops were filled with 14 feet of water. Teak and mahogany, used to make the railroad cars, was found as far downriver as New Orleans.

Lost forever. The Dayton Library lost 46,000 volumes, virtually all of Dayton Power and Light Company's overhead transmission and distribution lines were destroyed downtown and Newsalt's jewelry store lost its inventory after entire jewelry cases smashed through store windows.

A massive cleanup. The report from the Dayton Sanitation Department for the month after the flood tells the story: 133,600 wagon loads of debris removed; 13,991 houses and cellars cleaned and disinfected; 1,420 dead horses and 2,000 other dead animals removed.

Hamburger wagon begins. Businesses took shape because of the flood. the Miamisburg Hamburger Wagon was born as a result of it. The flood dumped 11 feet of water on the city and claimed six lives. Sherman “Cocky” Porter started making burgers in a skillet to feed the homeless and hungry during the long weeks of the refugee crisis.

Boat building. John H. Patterson, president of the National Cash Register Company, converted his 10-story factory building to a relief station and a construction site for rescue boats. More than 10,000 men, women, and children were rescued by the boats.

Shelter from the storm. Many of the rescued stayed at the NCR factory, which served 2,750 meals daily, or in a tent city built by the National Guard on NCR property. Others were housed and fed in school buildings or private homes. More than 800 people found shelter and food from the Marianists at St. Mary’s College, the school that later became the University of Dayton.

State of emergency. Ohio Gov. James M. Cox of Dayton declared a state of emergency. Dayton and Hamilton were placed under martial law, and the Ohio National Guard was called in to maintain order and help in the rescue effort.

Dayton unites. In the wake of the devastating flood, the citizens of the Miami Valley rallied to initiate plans for the prevention of future flooding. Citizens raised more than $2 million using the slogan “Remember the promises you made in the attic!” to begin a comprehensive flood protection program for the Miami Valley.