The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-06-01
C K EATEST DISASTER,
 NORTHWEST
Toll of Lives Estimated ai 20 ProperY Damage
 Runs Into Millions
By PAUL W. HARVEY, Jr.

PORTLAND, June i--tR-- The Columbia River flood, which all ready had taken toll of at least 20 lives and property loss of more than 37,000,000, forced mass evac- uation today of a l20-mile section at the lower end of the stream
 The river had already caused the Northwest's greatest disaster as it's crest approached the rich farm lands from the Portland area to the sea. Army engineers gave the warning to evacuate, but said many of the thousands of residents al- ready had fled
 Death Toll Unknown
 The toll of dead will not be known until waters recede. No estimate of damage throughout the area was available. but the Port land Housing Authority said dam age at the crumbled war-housing city of vanport was $27 100000. The only other estimate was Slo,000,0o0 damage in the Kelso. Woodland and Kalama district of Southwest Washington Those were only two small areas affected.
 Before the Vanport disaster, Ar my engineers had predicted the Columbia and it's tributaries would cause a total loss of s3o,000,o00. The engineers now won't make any kind of an estimate.
 More Flood Threats
 The river. which already had caused the Pacific Northwest's greatest disaster. threatened to flood hundreds of farms and many small. cities in the area, nearly all of which is downstream from Portland.
 |. Army engineers ordered the evacuation of the thousands Of residents of the AS drainage dis tricts area, but said many of them already had run for higher ground.
 vanport Crumbles
 The Portland Housing Authority estimated at $27,0o0,00o the loss suffered by the war-housing city of vanport, which was crumbled i sunday.
 The river. second largest in the nation in amount of water dis charged, is at flood stage for 75o miles. The crest will reach the Portland area tonight or tomorrow. | Part of Portland's downtown area, including the union station. was under water today alter the Willamette River topped the sea- wall. The station is Portland's only railroad depot. and trains were unable to use 1t.
 18,00O Homeless
 Tn North Portland. where more than lS.OO0 persons were left home less in Sundays Vanport disaster, the flooded area was the result of the bursting of two more dikes. On top of these two dikes were the approaches to the Pacific High way, principal north-south route.
 The breaking of these dikes left three square miles under water. with houses from Vanport pour ing through both gaps. Some of them turned end-over- and all hope of salyaging these was lost. I No bodies have been recovered from Vanport. Some bodies might be swept so far they never would be found.
 Was Blowout Army engineers are investigating the blowout of the railroad em- bankment which resulted in the Vanport disaster. The rail fill was constructed 40 years ago. Com- menting on the fate of what once was Oregon's second largest city, i the Portland Housing Authority I announced the agency feels terri bly, bad that lives possibly were lost but all you can do is depend on the advice of competent en- gineers.'
 Survivors Scattered Survivors are scattered in thous- ands of homes throughout the city, in schools and churches.
 Tn British Columbia. military au- thorities were given power to con- script citizens and requisition trans