THE PUBLIC MIND: FORMER RIVER WORKER REFLECTS ON OVERWHELMING FLOOD OF 1993

To the Editor:

I worked on river boats from 1929 to 1976. Every year I have witnessed the rising rivers that flood the lands of the Missis~sippi~, Missouri and Ohio river valleys.

During the cold winter months, the snow accumulates in our northern states to depths of six and eight feet or more. When the springtime comes, the sun and the spring rains melt the snow and the water cascades down through the three great river valleys. This usually starts in the month of March and the runoff is completed by June. Whenever there is a moderate snowfall and moderate spring rains in our northern states, ~there is little damage created and it is considered a normal runoff. But whenever there is excessive snowfall and excessive rainfall in the spring,~ then we have big floods.

Throughout my time and era~ I have seen some big floods,~ but the 1937 flood was the granddaddy of them all. This flood affected the entire Mississippi River system from the northern states all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. It caused a lot of damage to towns, farmlands, levees and personal properties. But by the end of June, it was over.

I thought that ~I had seen everything pertaining to floods but the flood of 1993 sure turned my thoughts around. Here it is late August and the rivers are falling slowly~; it will be some time in September before the rivers are contained in their banks.

Was it a phenomenon or an act of providence that the Ohio River valley was spared this terrible disaster? The rains never did move east of the Mississippi River valley. If the O~hio River valley had received the deluge of rainfall like the Mississippi and Missouri river valleys had, it would be 1937 all over again.

As the waters recede, the herculean task of cleanup begins and it will take days and weeks ~to complete the hard work involved before the people can return to their normal way of living. To the general public it will be history, but to the people who were victims of this terrible disaster and the many people who became involved,~ it will live in their memories forever. Many people have lost their homes, lands and fortunes and many have been filled with despair, sorrow and frustration. In my day, I have seen big, strong men weep, tears streaming down their cheeks, as they witnessed all their worldly goods and possessions being destroyed and swept away.

The American people are a tough lot; they don't know the meaning of the words quit or can't, and they will build again and again as they have in past years.

~~W~hen disaster strikes you will see the true grit of the American people. The American people have always~~ sho~wn love and~ compassion for people who need aid and help.

It was a wonderful sight to see the thousands of~~ volunteers who came from all over our great nation and stand side by side filling and toting sandbags and helping in every way they could. And the great organizations~ pitched in: the ~American Red Cross, the Salvation Army~ and other organizations, plus our own National Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard. All of these organizations contributed aid, food, clothing and shelter and consolation.

The kindness and thoughtfulness will be remembered a long time by all the people. Things of this nature are what make the American people the greatest ~people on Earth.

Unity is the key word, and with cooperation and coordination~ the American people get the job done. Isn't it strange, it takes a war or national disaster to make our people a united group. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of our ~elected officials would practice the word unity~ and cooperate and coordinate their efforts and ideals ... all of our problems could be solved with ease.

God bless all the people and God bless our wonderful and beautiful country America.

Arthur T~. King

Cairo, Ill.