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List: The history of flooding in Louisville

We’re taking a look at some of Louisville’s biggest floods in history.

We took a look at the history of flooding in Louisville. Here is a by-the-numbers look at the impact of the top three Ohio River floods in Louisville.

A man in rubber pants, a suit jacket, vest and bow tie stands at the bottom of a ramp, in the flooded basement of the Service Building in the aftermath of the 1937 flood.

University of Louisville’s Service Building (now known as the Administrative Annex) was completely flooded in 1937.

Photo courtesy ASC, UofL

The Great Flood

  • 1937. Known as the worst Ohio River flood in history, rains began to fall in January of 1937.
  • 175,000. The number of people who were evacuated due to the flooding.
  • 70%. The amount of the city that was under water.
  • 1948. The year that the Ohio River Flood Protection System began construction, prompted by the 1937 flood.

1945 flood

  • 42 ft. The peak stage of this flood in Louisville, about 11 ft lower than the 1937 flood.
  • 50,000. The number of people evacuated.
A view of Morton's Packing Co. building with flood waters reaching to the middle of the building, located at 714 Brent St. in Louisville, Ky. The side of the building has a painted wall sign that reads "Morton Packing Co." Other industrial buildings and smokestacks can be seen in the distance.

The Morton’s Packing Co. sign is barely visible above the 1945 flood waters.

Photo courtesy ASC, UofL

1997 flood

  • 70.47 ft. The crest of the Ohio river during the flood.
  • $200,000,000. The cost of the damage from the flooding.
  • 10.50. The amount of inches of rain that fell during a 24-hour period — a record held until 2023.

Learn more about the precautions + response plans that keep Louisville safe during extreme flooding.

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