Centennial Month! Events Update

Come hear and see more about 'Our National Calamity' of March 1913 at commemorative events across Nebraska, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.

A panel discussion in Nebraska will screen a new documentary movie. Art museums in Indiana and Ohio imaginatively put a viewer in the midst of a flood. A conference in Kentucky will reflect on preventing future disasters. Online are virtual exhibits of historical photographs, some leading to essential information about flood awareness should such a tragedy recur. Yes, this month—March 2013—groups across at least four states are commemorating the Great Easter 1913 natural disaster with events ranging from public lectures to walking tours to a memorial service to relatives swept away. 

And watch your local media! On March 9, an Indiana radio station will devote a live, hour-long listener call-in show to the 1913 flood; the program can also be live-streamed online. On March 9 and 15 in Dayton, Ohio, two PBS TV

The Dayton Art Institute, in its Special Exhibition Wing, will present a suite of three exhibits that commemorate the centennial of the 1913 Flood.

stations will air a documentary on the devastating 1913 flood in Dayton that drew attention and pity from the entire world. Beginning about March 17, at least four Ohio newspapers (in Akron, Cleveland, Hamilton, and Marietta) will be running special features on the 1913 flood, and doubtless others will as well. And on March 22, a PBS TV station in Omaha, Nebraska, will air a documentary on the devastating 1913 family of tornadoes that roared through Nebraska and Iowa, including through downtown Omaha. The Indiana PBS TV station WFYI is now filming a special on the 1913 flood. Meantime, pages are going up on Facebook and Twitter.

If you attend or host a 1913 event, please let me know how it goes. E-mail me a paragraph about what it covered, who was there, and how you felt. Send some photographs. Also, please send me clippings, PDFs, and/or URLs to 1913 centennial flood and tornado stories run in local newspapers or online. Don’t forget links to podcasts or videos. Sometime in April, I plan to post a roundup of accounts of events and links to centennial articles to share with people in distant regions… and so memories don’t fade away, as they did after 1913.

Note: Some events below are new for this March listing. Some events listed last month have extended their runs or updated details or **even changed venue.** Please contact the sources listed for more information (unless you have questions specifically about the talks I personally will be giving). 

Note also: for some organizations (notably the NOAA weather services), the 1913 centennial extends this entire year: one conference newly listed below is slated for August. Next event update is scheduled for April 7. Announcements or modifications received by Monday, April 1 (no foolin’!) can be included; please contact me at t.e.bell@ieee.org . 

NEBRASKA

March 10 (Sunday). Omaha. At 2:00 PM, Metropolitan Community College, Fort Omaha Campus, Bldg. 22 Swanson Conference Center, a panel discussion “Extreme Weather: The 1913 Easter Sunday Tornado”, presented by Douglas County Historical Society will commemorate the Great Easter Omaha Tornado. Moderator: Mike DiGiacomo (morning show co-host on “Omaha Morning Blend”, KMTV ). Panelists: Mike Tobias (Emmy Award-winning Senior Reporter/Producer, NET Nebraska Public Television and Radio); Brian Smith (Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service Forecast Office in Valley, NE; Dennis Mihelich (retired professor of history, Creighton University and past president of both the Douglas County Historical Society and the Nebraska State Historical Society); Harl Dalstrom (professor emeritus of history at University of Nebraska, Omaha). NEW PANELIST ADDED: 

Catherine Biba (Ph.D. candidate at Cornell University, whose dissertation focuses on the Omaha tornado and the business community’s response). After the panel discussion, Tobias of NET will show a 10- to 15-minute preview of his new documentary Devil Clouds: Tornadoes Strike Nebraska on the 1913 Easter tornado outbreak, which will debut on NETV on March 22, 2013 (check local listings for times). NET is also airing a series of radio and TV stories about the Omaha tornadoes in March.   Douglas County Historical Society is also collaborating with the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society to publish a photographic booklet (available at the March 10th panel discussion) of the tornado’s destruction, because the path of the Omaha tornado devastated the Jewish community. Members of both organizations will receive a complimentary copy of the booklet for attending the event. 

March 22 (Friday). Documentary Devil Clouds: Tornadoes Strike Nebraska on the 1913 Easter tornado outbreak will premier on NETV (Nebraska Public TV). Check local listings for times. Throughout March, NET is also airing a series of radio and TV stories about the Omaha tornadoes.  Closer to the time, more information will appear on NET's website.

KENTUCKY

March 26 (Tuesday). Louisville. [UPDATE MARCH 5: **ENTIRE CONFERENCE POSTPONED UNTIL MAYBE AUGUST DUE TO SEQUESTRATION**] The first day of the Ohio River Basin Alliance annual meeting will have a session from 1:00 to 2:00 PM dedicated to “The Historic 1913 Flood,” featuring talks by Sarah Jamison (National Weather Service), Trudy E. Bell (University of California), and Manuela Johnson (Indiana Department of Homeland Security). Preliminary agenda and hotel information are at the ORBA website (special hotel convention rate is good for reservations made up to March 8).

INDIANA

In progress now through April 30. Noblesville. Exhibit of eight original photographs commemorating the 1913 flood in Noblesville, which is on the White River, from three different collections in the Hamilton East Public Library (One Library Plaza, Noblesville, 46060). The exhibit “The Great Flood of 1913,” displayed in the Indiana Room, also includes newspaper headlines and enlarged copies of local newspaper articles. For details, contact the Indiana Room 330-770-3206. The 1913 flood is still the flood of record in Noblesville.

1913 flood in Lafayette, Indiana; Tippecanoe County Historical Association

March 1-April 30. West Lafayette. The West Lafayette Public Library, 208 W. Columbia, West Lafayette, will display photographs from the Tippecanoe County Historical Association’s Permanent Collection in an exhibit 100th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1913 Great Flood and Its Destruction in Tippecanoe County. The exhibit will feature narratives about the great flood in Indiana towns and across the Midwest, as the monumental spring 1913 storm system generated tornadoes and floods that devastated the industrial north from Nebraska to the Atlantic seaboard and down the Mississippi. For more information, contact Kathy Atwell, Executive Director, Tippecanoe County Historical Association, at 765-476-8411 ext. 208. 

March 9 (Saturday). Indianapolis. [NEW LISTING!] The weekly 12 noon call-in radio show “Hoosier History Live!” with Nelson Price on WICR 88.7 FM is devoting its hour to “Flood of 1913, Worst in State History.” Panel of featured guests will be historian and science journalist Trudy E. Bell , along with Eloise Batic and Angela Giacomelli, two historical researchers with the Indiana Historical Society who created the exhibit “You are There 1913: A City Under Water” that will open

March 26 (see below) at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. Those outside the listening area can listen live online – follow the links at http://hoosierhistorylive.org/listen.html

 

March 19 (Tuesday). West Lafayette. Talk “The Great Easter Flood of 1913: Second Only to Noah’s” by Robert Verplank, at Lafayette Rotary Noon Club. Lunch at 11:30 AM ($11.00) followed by program. Public welcome. Four Points by Sheraton, 1600 Cumberland Avenue. For more information, contact Bob Verplank.

1913 flood in Peru, Indiana; Miami County Museum

March 23-May 25. Exhibit “Submerged: The Great 1913 Flood in Peru, Indiana” at the Miami County Museum, Ulery Annex. The exhibit will include objects and archival material from the museum’s collections and highlight stories about what caused the flood, destruction of homes and businesses, stories of rescuers and those who perished, local media coverage, community support from our neighbors, and rebuilding of the city. Come visit us and share the powerful images and stories, as well as listen to readers speak the words from 1913 flood letters. See events listed for the Miami County Museum, 51 North Broadway, Peru, IN 46970; 765-473-9183;  or email admin@mcmuseum.org. 

March 23 (Saturday). Brookville. (NEW LISTING!) At 9:30 AM, there will be mass at St. Michael’s church http://www.smsbrookville.org/ said for members of the Fries family lost or drowned in the 1913 flood, followed by a memorial service at the historical marker (on Route 52, right in front of the IGA) at 11:00 AM. Members of the public—especially ones who also lost ancestors in the 1913 flood—are welcome to attend. A light lunch will follow at 12:00 PM at the Knights of Columbus, 333 Main Street, Brookville, with a program to follow. Reservations required: (765) 647-7365. More about Brookville in the flood appears at this Silver Jackets page.

March 26 (Tuesday)-December 31. Indianapolis. Opening of the Indiana Historical Society's ninth You Are There experience, a special exhibit at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center  "1913: A City Under Water" commemorating the Great Flood of 1913, and addressing the environmental effects of local urban flooding. Visit a reconstruction of the Wulf’s Hall Relief Station http://www.indianahistory.org/indiana-experience/you-are-there/1913-em-a-city-under-water-em  on the west side of downtown Indianapolis in the days following the flood. Exhibit is a collaboration of the Indiana Historical Society with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other organizations. More information appears at "Thinking About OurRelationship with Water" on the IHS blog. Hours, admission, and other information is at http://www.indianahistory.org/plan-your-visit/hours-and-admission . [NEW!] Scenes from the making of the exhibit appear at http://www.indianahistory.org/blog/2013/02/26/making-of-you-are-there-1913-a-city-under-water .

Two images of scenes in Flow: Can You See the River? at IMA

Ongoing. [NEW LISTING!] Not specifically related to the 1913 flood, but definitely intended (among other things) to give visitors a feel for flooding is the permanent outdoor installation Flow: Can You See the River? in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park adjacent to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Most striking is the set of trees girdled with red ribbons that give a viewer a sense of how high the water would be for a "100-year flood" (a flood with 1% chance of happening any given year). There is a PDF brochure with a map at the exhibit's microsite.

OHIO (Many! All over the state!)

In progress now through April. Hamilton, OH: Exhibit "The Destruction of Industrial Hamilton During the 1913 Flood," Heritage Hall Museum, 20 High Street. Hours and other information appears on the website for the Heritage Hall Museum.  . See also "Photos telldramatic story of 1913 flood" and "Work continues on 1913Flood commemoration." 

In progress now through May 5. Dayton. The Dayton Art Institute, in its Special Exhibition Wing, will present a suite of three exhibits that commemorate the centennial of the 1913 Flood. The three are “Storm,” an exhibit of large-scale paintings by April Gornik; “Watershed,” based on the new publication by the Miami Conservancy District that contrasts historical images documenting the flood and its aftermath with Andy Snow’s contemporary photographs depicting similar views; and “Riverbank,” consisting of images and information about development along the Great Miami River. Details about the exhibit, hours, admission, and contact information appear at the DAI website.

March 1-April 28. Coshocton. (NEW LISTING!) Special exhibit “The Flood of 1913” of nearly 50 photographs and postcards from flooded Coshocton County, from the collection of Joe and Donna Kreitzer, will be displayed at the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, 300 North Whitewoman Street (Roscoe Village). $3.00 adults, $2 ages 5-16. For information, contact museum director Patti Makenke at (740) 622-8710 or jhmuseum@jhmuseum.org .

March 1, 8, 15, 22, and (Fridays). Dayton. At 7:00 PM every Friday in March, Leon Bey of Gem City Walking Tours conducts “The Great Dayton Flood Walk.” Reservations are required; for ticket information, contact Bey (937)274-4749. For background about Bey, see "Ghosts in Dayton? tour guide tells where they are."

March 1-31. Oxford. Display on the "Flood of 1913: Oxford" at the Smith Library of Regional History featuring materials from the Smith Library collection. 15 S. College Ave., Oxford, OH 45056. For details and information, call 513-523-3035. 

March 1–May 4. Hamilton. A two-month series of events for Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial is cosponsored by the city of Hamilton, the Michael J. Colligan History Project, Miami University Hamilton's Downtown Center, the Butler County Historical Society, Lane Libraries, Heritage Hall, the Fitton Center for the Creative Arts, and other local organizations. For more information, contact Curtis W. Ellison, Michael J. Colligan History Project, (513) 461-1131 or download the latest schedule of events. Individual events are listed below. 

March 3 (Sunday) 8 PM (repeated March 15, 9 PM). Greater Dayton area. Think TV (PBS) on Channels 14 and 16 will air its 2010 documentary Goodbye, TheLevee Has Broken: The Story of the Great Dayton Flood, produced in partnership with the Montgomery County Historical Society. Check local listings for details. Also available on DVD.

March 5 (Tuesday). Hamilton. At 7:00 PM, science journalist and historian Trudy E. Bell, M.A., presents a talk "Ohio's Greatest Weather Disaster: The1913 Flood in Hamilton and Beyond," at the Parrish Auditorium [NOTE CHANGE IN VENUE!], Miami University Hamilton, 1601 University Blvd. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial events.

March 7 (Thursday). West Milton. Talk “The Story of the 1913 Flood in the Northern Miami Valley” followed by a book signing, by Scott Trostel, author of And Through The Black Night of Terror: The 1913 Flood in the Northern Miami Valley. 6:00 PM, free. Versailles Area Historical Museum, 552 S. West Street. Trostel will give additional talks and book signings at different northern Miami Valley venues on March 12, 14, 23, 25, 26; details about the book and events (some requiring paid admission) appear here. 

March 10–25. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) will join other organizations in Ohio and Indiana to commemorate the Great Flood of 1913. Individual programs are listed below. Details and directions are printed in CVNP’s Spring 2013 Program, soon to be posted. See also http://www.ohioanderiecanalway.com/Main/Pages/106.aspx.

March 10 (Sunday). CVNP, Rockside. At 11:00 A.M., a special excursion of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad departs for the onboard program “The Great Flood of 1913.” Meet at Rockside Station, 11:00 A.M. Two-hour round trip is $12.00 per person aged 3 and older. Advance registration required. See also http://www.ohioanderiecanalway.com/Main/Pages/106.aspx

March 12 (Tuesday). Hamilton. At 2:00 PM. Jim Blount, Hamilton Historian, presents a talk "Hamilton in Crisis: Who Came to the City's rescue after the March 1913 Flood?" Hamilton Lane Library, 300 North Third Street. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial events.

March 16 (Saturday). CVNP, Boston. At 9:00 A.M., “Flooding Boston,” a 90-minute, two-mile naturalist-guided hike along road and trail to explore stories of Boston and the devastating 1913 flood. For details and registration, call 330-657-2299. See also http://www.ohioanderiecanalway.com/Main/Pages/106.aspx

March 20 (Wednesday). Lebanon. Harriet Foley and Elli Bambakidis will present talks in a session “Preserving Memories of the 1913 Flood in Warren and Montgomery Counties,” 7:30 PM, Warren County Genealogical Society, Phillippi Meeting Room, Otterbein Retirement Community,  585 SR741, Lebanon OH 45005. Featuring documents and artifacts from the Franklin Area Historical Society collection. Free. For more information, contact Harriet Foley 513-423-7977 or the Warren Count Genealogical Society 513-695-1144.

March 22 (Friday). CVNP, Peninsula. Monthly Lyceum Lecture with a special start time of 8:00 PM: science journalist and historian Trudy E. Bell, M.A., presents "The Great Easter 1913 Flood: Ohio's Worst Natural Disaster—and Cleveland as First Responder."  Preceded by “Dinner in the Valley: Feast Before the Flood,” at 6:00 PM, which will feature costumed historical reenactors plus a chef discussing local foods people in 1913 might have eaten. Both at Happy Days Lodge. Lyceum lecture alone, $6 adults, $3 children 3-12. Dinner plus lecture $34 adults, $7 children 5-12. Reservations taken through March 18. For lecture For pricing and reservations, call 330-657-2909, x100 (lecture), 330-657-2796 x121 (dinner and lecture). See also http://www.ohioanderiecanalway.com/Main/Pages/106.aspx

March 22 (Friday). Columbus. The afternoon session (from 2:00 to 4:00 PM) of the 17th annual Severe Weather Symposium of the Meteorology Club at The Ohio State University will be themed around “100th Anniversary of the 1913 Flood.” Five representatives from the Silver Jackets will speak: Sarah Jamison (National Weather Service, Cleveland), Christopher Thom (director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources), Steve Ferryman (Ohio Emergency Management Agency), James Noel (Ohio River Forecast Center), and Julie Dian-Reed (National Weather Service, Wilmington).  The symposium, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, will be held at Mount Hall (1050 Carmack Rd. Columbus, OH) Room 145. Registration required (bonus: the first 25 people who express interest will be able to take a tour of the on-campus Byrd Polar Research Center and its climate research).

March 23 (Saturday). Peninsula. Warm up with a tasty selection of over a dozen homemade soups at our second annual "Soup's On!" event at the G.A.R. Hall on Saturday, March 23, 2013 for the program “Soup’s On, Waters Are Rising!” from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. pm. A special slideshow program about the 100th anniversary of the Flood of 1913, Ohio’s greatest natural disaster,  will be shown during lunch. Fee and registration required. G.A.R. Hall Museum, 1785 Main Street , Peninsula, 44264; (330) 657-2528. See also http://www.ohioanderiecanalway.com/Main/Pages/106.aspx

March 23 (Saturday). Dayton. Opening of a new permanent exhibit on the Great Flood of 1913 on the grounds of Carillon Historical Park by Dayton History. the exhibit will provide a permanent home on display for hundreds of artifacts from the 1913 flood and recovery efforts.  See "Plans to commemorate the 100th anniversary of region's greatest catastrophe." Dayton History is Montgomery County's official historical organization, consisting of the Archive Center, Carillon Historical Park, Hawthorn Hill, Memorial Hall, Patterson Homestead, Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial, and the Old Court House). Carillon Historical Park is at 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton Ohio, 45409, (937) 293-2841.

March 23 (Saturday). Canton. 100 years later to the day, opening and dedication of the “Flood of 1913” exhibit 10:00 A.M.–2:00 PM. Exhibit tells the story of the 1913 flood through historic imagery, artifacts, and photographs. Exhibit will run through December 31. Free. Canalway Center, Sippo Lake Park/Exploration Gateway, 5712 12^th Street NW, Canton, OH 44708. See also http://www.ohioanderiecanalway.com/Main/Pages/106.aspx

March 24 (Sunday). Coshocton. (NEW LISTING!) At 2:00 PM, at the Roscoe Village Visitors Center, David A. Neuhardt, an officer and trustee of the Canal Society of Ohio and who teaches a course on canal history at the University of Dayton, will be presenting an illustrated talk “The Great Flood of 1913” in the Special Exhibit Gallery at the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, Whitewoman Street, Coshocton 43812. No charge; donations accepted. Contact Debbie McDonald, (800) 877-1830 or (740) 622-7644 x12. More information appears at http://visitcoshocton.com/

 

March 24 (Sunday). Hamilton. At 2:00 PM and 4:00, there will be a guided interpretive tour of 1913 flood sites in Hamilton. Tours will start at the Hamilton Visitors Center at High and Monument Streets. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial events.

March 25 (Monday). Akron. Metro Parks, Serving Summit Couny and the Summit County Historical Society commemorate the flood that ended the Ohio & Erie Canal era with the "Akron History Hike: The Flood of 1913" along the Ohio & Erie Canalway from Lock 4 to Lock 1. At 11:30 A.M., there will be a brief stop at the historic Richard Howe House, Lock 3. Howe was the canal’s resident engineer 1825–1832; the mansion now serves as a visitor information center. For more information, call 330-865-8065.

March 25 (Monday). Hamilton. At 12:00 noon, the City of Hamilton will have its Centennial Commemoration of the 1913 Flood at the Butler County Courthouse Gazebo, 315 High Street. City officials, speakers, Hamilton schools, and guests commemorate the 1913 Flood in Hamilton on the 100th anniversary of the high-water date. Free. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial events.

March 26 (Tuesday). Hamilton. At 7:00 PM. Jim Blount, Hamilton Historian, will present a talk "The Dam Lie That Saved Lives: Hamilton Family Stories of the 1913 Flood." Program also features images from the Rob Wile Collection, Jack Armstrong Collection, and Eckert Family Collection of 1913 Flood Postcards, Photographs and Memorabilia. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial events.

March 28 (Thursday). Cuyahoga Falls. [NEW LISTING!] From 12 noon to 1 PM for “History and a Brown Bag Lunch” at the CanalWay Center of the ClevelandMetroParks, historical interpreter Karen Lakus will share stories, facts, and photographs on “The Great Flood of 1913.” Free. Bring a lunch if you wish. For more information, call the CanalWay Center, E. 49th St. entrance, Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, at (216) 206-1000.

March 28 (Thursday). Oxford. At 7:00 PM, Curtis W. Ellison and others will present a program "Towns on the Tributaries in the 1913 Flood" at the Smith Library of Regional History. While many photographs were taken of damage to big cities, this program will offer a broader perspective on the impact of the flood on smaller communities. 15 S. College Ave., Oxford, OH 45056. For details and information, call 513-523-3035.

March 30 (Saturday). Franklin. From 2:00 to 5:00 PM, the Harding Museum (302 Park Ave., Franklin, OH 45005) will host a special exhibit opening free to all visitors to commemorate the centennial of the 1913 flood. The Great 1913 Flood Exhibit of the Franklin Area Historical Society features  artifacts and documents in the FAHS’s extensive 1913 flood collection. The items will be displayed on the first floor of the Harding Museum, which itself

1913 flood in Franklin, Ohio; Franklin area Historical Society

was flooded in 1913. Exhibit opening is free.  Note: From April 7 through October 27, the exhibit will also be available for viewing on Sunday afternoons from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the regular admission fee of $3 per adult and $1 per child. For more information, see the FAHS website or leave a message at the FAHS (937-746-8295) or contact Mary Nenninger 937-743-5832. 

March 30 (Saturday). Hamilton. At 2:00 PM and 4:00, there will be a guided interpretive tour of 1913 flood sites in Hamilton. Tours will start at the Hamilton Visitors Center at High and Monument Streets. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial events.

April 1-30. Oxford. Display on the "Flood of 1913: Dayton" at the Smith Library of RegionalHistory featuring materials from the Smith Library collection. 15 S. College Ave., Oxford, OH 45056. For details and information, call 513-523-3035. 

April 6 (Saturday). Hamilton. At 2:00 PM and 4:00, there will be a guided interpretive tour of 1913 flood sites in Hamilton. Tours will start at the Hamilton Visitors Center at High and Monument Streets. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial events.

April 8 (Monday). Franklin. At 6:30 PM, Robert C. Bowman, President of the Franklin Area Historical Society, will present a talk “Consequences of the 1913 Flood on Franklin City, Carlisle, and Chautauqua,” at the Franklin Public Library, 44 E. 4th Street, Franklin, OH 45005. Illustrated talk will include images from photographs and postcards held in archives of the Franklin Area Historical Society. Free. For more information, see the FAHS website or leave a message at the FAHS (937-746-8295) or contact Robert C. Bowman at 937-903-4350. 

April 9 (Tuesday). Hamilton. At 2:00 PM. Jim Blount, Hamilton Historian, will present a talk "Remember the Promises We Made in the Attic! Obstacles to Preventing Another 1913 Flood" Hamilton Lane Library, 300 North Third Street. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial events.

April 9 (Tuesday). Hamilton. At 7:00 PM, "A Talk with Tom Rentschler" on the Achievements and Legacies of the Miami Conservancy District, at the Wilks Center, Miami University Hamilton, 1601 University Blvd. Part of the Great Miami River Flood of 1913 Centennial events.

Feature article in March 2011 issue of The Rotarian by Trudy E. Bell on how through the 1913 flood Rotary discovered its humanitarian mission

April 24 (Wednesday). Rocky River. At 7:30 AM (yes, that’s 7:30 in the morning), at the Lakewood–Rocky River Sunrise Rotary Club, Trudy E. Bell, M.A. will present a talk “The Great Easter 1913 Tornadoes and Flood: How Rotary Discovered Its Humanitarian Mission.” In 1913, Rotary, then a fledgling business service organization, was only five years old. But how Rotarians everywhere instantly responded to the devastatingtragedy transformed the whole meaning of service. At the Don Umerley Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, OH 44116. Visitors welcome. Come early for a light breakfast ($5.00) preceding the talk. Directions are on the Rotary Club’s website. 

 August 28-29 (Wednesday-Thursday). Columbus. [NEW LISTING!] The 2013 Ohio Statewide Floodplain Management Conference, an annual training event on many aspects of floodplain management, will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1913 flood. The conference is a cooperative effort of among the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Ohio department of Natural Resources (ODNR), and Ohio Floodplain Management Association (OFMA). Doubletree Hotel, Columbus/Worthington. For information, contact Alicia Silverio at (614) 265-1006 or e-mail her.

ANYWHERE (accessible nationwide or even worldwide)

March 9 (Saturday). [NEW LISTING!] Listen live to the weekly 12 noon call-in radio show “Hoosier History Live!” with Nelson Price on WICR 88.7 FM; the March 9 show  is devoting the entire hour to “Flood of 1913, Worst in State History.” Panel of featured guests will be historian and science journalist Trudy E. Bell , along with Eloise Batic and Angela Giacomelli, two historical researchers with the Indiana Historical Society who created the exhibit “You are There 1913: A City Under Water” that will open March 26 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. Those outside the listening area can listen live online – follow the links at http://hoosierhistorylive.org/listen.html [I tried it - sound quality is excellent!]

March 18–22: This year's annual Flood Safety Awareness Week of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Useful statistics and training materials are here.

April 18 (Thursday). Worldwide. [NEW LISTING!] World Amateur Radio Day. Each year on April 18, amateur (ham) radio operators internationally celebrate World Amateur Radio Day, the day in 1925 that the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was founded. This year 2013 is special, because 100 years ago during the 1913 flood in Columbus, Ohio (see this 1964 obituary of one of the radio amateur heroes), and elsewhere were the first recorded instances of amateur radio being used to provide communications in a natural disaster. The theme for 2013 is thus “Amateur Radio: Entering Its Second Century of DisasterCommunications.”

Indianapolis NOAA website on the 1913 flood, is focusing on Indiana, with dramatic photographs along with maps and data useful for any local organizations planning events.

The Miami Conservancy District in southwest Ohio, although not planning any commemorative events itself, has launched a new website http://1913flood.com/ to publicize 1913 centennial events in the region. The MCD also plans to release a centennial book A Flood of Memories in March.

First page of the article in the January 2013 newsletter The Buzz outlining some of the 1913 flood centennial outreach plans of the Silver Jackets

The Silver Jackets is a consortium of Federal and State agencies devoted to reducing the risk of flooding and other natural disasters as well as enhancing response and recovery efforts--in part by raising public awareness. Collaborating agencies include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),  NOAA, and agencies in 33 states. Among other programs, the Silver Jackets are using the centennial of the 1913 flood to raise public awareness, including highlighting the effect of the natural disaster in different communities. It series of web pages--click the tab "Historical Info" under "The Great Flood of 1913: 100 Years Later" --summarize the multistate storm system with riveting quotes and photos. The Silver Jackets also publish a newsletter and other documents. In the January 2013 newsletter, the article "The Great Flood of 1913 Not to Be Forgotten" on pages 8 and 9 discuss some of the Silver Jacket's outreach plans for commemorating the 1913 centennial. More about the Silver Jackets outreach events appear in the presentation by Sarah Jamison, NOAA.  See other events listed at http://mrcc.isws.illinois.edu/1913Flood/awareness/events.shtml  and follow them on Twitter at #1913flood and #SilverJackets.

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency is planning  a number of events, which will be posted at this Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/Great1913Flood?fref=ts .

©2013 Trudy E. Bell. For permission to reprint or use, contact Trudy E. Bell at t.e.bell@ieee.org

Next time: ‘We Lost Everything We Had’