by Rachel Dworkin, archivist
June 22nd marked the 45th anniversary of the Flood of 1972. Caused by heavy rains courtest of Hurricane Agnes, the flood of June 22-23, 1972 was the worst disaster in the recorded history of Chemung County. It caused an estimated $291.2 million worth of propety damage and forced approximately 15,000 Elmirans from their homes. The waters had barely receded before the city was hit by a second flood, this one of people. ![]() |
| Downtown Elmira at the height of the flood, June 23, 1972 |
Some of the visitors where here to help. Trucks from Utica came down with bottles of clean, pasteurized water courtesy of that city’s breweries. Over 1,000 Red Cross workers helped to coordinate supplies for the displaced and assist with the clean-up. Volunteers with Operation Rebuildmade repairs to people’s homes. On June 30, Vice-President Spiro Agnew toured the Twin Tiers to survey the damage and promise federal assistance. Elmira could not have recovered as quickly as it did without the invaluable help all of them provided.
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| Vice-President Spiro Agnew's visit, June 30, 1972. He's from the government and he's here to help. |
Other visitors were less benign. Looting was a huge problem. The flood had left many homes and businesses unguarded. Within four days of the flood, 13 people were arrested for looting, charged with stealing everything from electronics from stores to personal items from people’s homes and even the rug from Silver Dollar Cleaners. The National Guard was called in to protect the downtown from further theft. They formed a perimeter around the area, only letting in store owners who had a special pass to be there. With no authority to arrest people, or even a place to put them if they did, the Guard resorted to simply confiscating stolen merchandise and escorting looters outside the protected zone.
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| National Guard on Water Street |
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| Elmira Mayor Richard Loll talks with Guardsmen on Water Street. |
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| Guardsmen on Lake Street Bridge. As one of Elmira's two surviving bridges, Lake Street was used for emergency and official vehicles only. All civilian traffic had to use the Madison Avenue Bridge. |
Sight-seers and disaster tourists also posed a problem. Two of the city’s four bridges were down and, with portions of the downtown being blocked by the National Guard, traffic was a nightmare. The influx of outsiders coming to take pictures and gawk at the devastation only made it that much worse. They also caused problems driving through residential areas. The flood had left the roads coated in mud and, as it dried, every car which drove by kicked up clouds of dust. Some homeowners put up roadblocks on their streets to keep out the tourists so they could salvage their homes in peace.
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| Sign at the corner of West Water Street and Demerest Parkway. |
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| Sign at the corner of West Water Street and Sunnyside Drive. |
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