The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1937-02-19
.Colored CCC Units
Help In Flood Area


ner. Director of the Civilian Con-
servation Corps, the CCC organi-
cation in the Ohio and Mississippi
River Valleys has furnished trans
portation, shelter and food to thou
sands Of refugees made homeless
by rising flood waters in Ohio,
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ten
nessee. and other central and SOU
thern states. In letters forwarded
to the Wa Department, which is
in charge of the administration of
the CCc camps, and the Depart
ment of Agriculture ard the De-
partment of the Interior. which
supervise the work operations Of
the enroliees. Director Fechner
directed early this week that ev-
cry facility of the CCC-funds,
personnel. equipment, buildings,
and supplies--be made available
for use in the flooded area.
In addition to supplying men
and trucks for rescue work, the
Director asked that all CCC camps
both active and discontinued be
made available for housing per-
sons rendered homeless by the
floods. CCC camps also have been
turned over to the Public Health
Service for use as homes during
the flood rehabilitation work
One of the first CCC companies
to go on twenty-four hour relief
duty in the Ohio Valley flood area
ves Company 1905. composed of
$50 colored CCC junior enrollees
stationed at Mt. Airy National
Forest on the outskirts of Cincin-
natl.
Company $50, a colored Gee
junior unit stationed near Evans
vile. Indiana, has also been called
on to aid in the general rescue
work of the homeless caused by
the overlooking of the Ohio river
at this point.
The following telegram was re-
ceived from Edward t. Baker col
ored. Camp Educational Adviser
of Negro CcC Company stationed
at Camp scs-22. Camp Muskin-
gum GAINESVILLE. Ohio, on January
81. 1887:
AT 2 a. m. Friday morning a
call was received at ompany 1921,
SCS-22, GAINESVILLE, OHIO, asking
for aid in the crisis precipitated
by the rising flood waters of the
Muslxingum and Licking rivers.
All members of the company
were aroused from their beds.
Quickly dressing, the men assem-
bled in the company street. The
camp officials asl.ed for volun-
teers to aid the flood stricken ia
miles. Practically every enrollee
answered the call.
THE working groups entered
the flood stricken area of zanes-
vile. Surging waters impeded the
progress of trucks. However, the
men pressed on into the danger
zones.
Families and furniture were
moved out of homes to safer areas.
The motors of the trucks were
kept running as the water mount
ed higher and higher on the wheels
but the men continued to plow
through the water to get every
thing possible moved.
when the ever rising water
flooded the road which led to the
camp, trucks were driven fifteen
miles to get the trucks over to
the other side. When the narrow
muddy land which they were using
became impossible, trucks were
left on both sides of the swollen
stream. Relief crews were ferried
across to take the place of the
tired and weary men who We're re-
turning to camp to get a much
needed rest. Thus, the work went
or under the most discouraging
conditions.
When rising waters threatened
the main arteries of traffic in the
town, crews of men hauled sand
to make sand bags to stem the
on-rushing waters.
Refugees were housed in homes,
schools, and any place available.
The problem of feeding these peo-
pie was turned over to the CCC.
All company cooks were pressed
into duty to feed the 900 or more
refugees in this particular school.
Now that the turbulent waters
are subsiding, the men are assist
ing families to move their possess
sions into flood battered homes.
When the angry waters have re-
turned to deserted channels of the
rivers, these men will undertake
the enormous task of cleaning de-
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