Floods in Maury County
Aerial photograph of downtown Columbia and Riverside area on February 14, 1948. Photograph from Tennessee State Library and Archives.[1]
This is a list of significant floods that have occurred in Maury County, Tennessee. Before 1887 (when the Weather Bureau installed the first instruments to measure the level of the Duck River in Columbia), floods are included based on newspaper and historical reports indicating significant damage or loss-of-life occurred.[2] After 1887, official records are used and only floods above 41 feet are listed.
For the Duck River at Columbia, 32 feet is considered Flood Stage, and 41 considered Major Flood Stage.[3] The following effects may occur during flooding:
- At 34 feet: Water begins to cover Highway 247 near Williamsport.
- At 34.5 feet: Water begins to cover school grounds at Riverside Elementary School in Columbia.
- At 36 feet: Water reaches Riverside Drive in Columbia.
- At 42 feet: Water reaches the U.S. Highway 31 bridge in Columbia.
- At 44 feet: Water reaches Iron Bridge Road in Columbia and the Columbia city maintenance garage.
- At 45 feet: Water affects businesses and homes in Santa Fe.
- At 46 feet: Evacuation of businesses and homes in and around Columbia may be required.
- At 49 feet: Homes on Riverside Drive are flooded.[3]
Many of the largest floods on the Duck River correspond with similar floods on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, due to regional rainfall events. For example, the 1948, 2010 and 2019 floods occurred at the same time as serious flooding in other parts of Middle Tennessee.[4][5][6]
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| December 1847 | A bridge across the Duck River was carried away, and Horsley's Mill near Columbia was destroyed on December 13. For decades afterward this was regarded as the highest flood in Columbia's history.[7] |
| April 1874 | Damaged a flour mill and bridge, and destroyed a tannery around April 16, and affected trains at Culleoka and Santa Fe. May have been higher than the 1847 flood. The TVA estimated years later that it crested about four feet below the 1948 flood, or at about 48 feet.[2][8] |
| March 1902 | River crested at 48' at Columbia on Holy Saturday, March 29.[3] |
| March 1929 | River crested at 43.1' at Columbia on March 25.[3] |
| February 1948 | River crested at 51.75' at Columbia on Valentine's Day, February 14.[3] |
| March 1955 | River crested at 44.78' at Columbia on March 23.[3] |
| January 1970 | River crested at 41.31' at Columbia on New Year's Day, January 1.[3][9] |
| March 1973 | River crested at 49.31' at Columbia on St. Patrick's Day, March 17.[3] |
| January 1974 | River crested at 42.38' at Columbia on January 29.[3] |
| March 1975 | River crested at 48.31' at Columbia on March 14.[3] |
| February 1991 | River crested at 46.80' at Columbia on February 20.[3] |
| December 1991 | River crested at 41.68' at Columbia on December 3.[9] |
| March 1994 | River crested at 41.02' at Columbia on March 29.[9] |
| January 2002 | River crested at 45.61' at Columbia on January 26.[3] |
| May 2003 | River crested at 44.83' at Columbia on May 8.[3] |
| May 2010 | River crested at 44.91' at Columbia on May 3.[3] |
| February 2019 | River crested at 42.76' at Columbia on February 24.[3] |
References
- ↑ "Photograph and Image Search Full Citation: Image ID 24562." Tennessee Secretary of State - TSLA. Undated. Web (tnsos.org). 15 Feb. 2021.]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 See Floods on the Duck River in the Vicinity of Columbia, Tennessee. Knoxville, Tennessee Valley Authority - Division of Water Control Planning, October 1954. Web (hathitrust.org). 15 Feb. 2021.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 "Duck River at Columbia." National Weather Service - Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Center. Undated. Web (weather.gov). 15 Feb. 2021.
- ↑ Teeter, H.B. "Cumberland Soars; Toll High; Crest May Top 52 Feet; Carthage Area Desperate." The Nashville Tennessean. 15 Feb. 1948. p. 1. Web (newspapers.com). 15 Feb. 2021.
- ↑ "Flood of 2010: SWAMPED: Devastation Spreads in Rain's Wake." The Tennessean. 4 May 2010. p. 1A. Web (newspapers.com). 15 Feb. 2021.
- ↑ Allison, Natalie. "Tennessee Dries Out." The Tennessean. 25 Feb. 2019. p. 1A. Web (newspapers.com). 15 Feb. 2021.
- ↑ Old Times." (recollections of previous floods). The (Columbia, Tenn.) Herald and Mail. 13 Jan. 1871, p. 3. Web (newspapers.com). 15 Feb. 2021.
- ↑ "Fearful Disaster at Columbia." The Nashville Union and American. 17 April 1874, p. 4. Web (newspapers.com). 15 Feb. 2021.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Historic Crests for Duck River at Columbia." National Weather Service. Undated. Web (weather.gov). 15 Feb. 2021.
