Evening star., 1950-01-07
Flood Danger Rises
In Parts Of Midwest;
Ice MeIts in Dixie
by the Associofed Prexs

BY the Associated Press
Flood waters rose. to new danger
points in parts of the Midwest
today while the North Central
States and New England received
warnings of cold waves and the
sun helped the Memphis area re-
cover from an ice storm.
The floods and ice storms in
f1icted severe hardship on thou
sands. Hundreds were made
temporarily homeless. Other thou
sands were without heat. Busi-
ness was disrupted. Scores of
highways were under water or
ice-blocked. /
There have been several deaths
attributed to storms or the floods.
Uncounted livestock in the flood
areas have been lost or are in
danger.
Cold weather this week caused
millions of dollars damage to
crops in Southern California and
Arizona but a break in the alb
normally severe cold was expected.
Temperatures Set Records.
Meanwhile, most of the East
ern and Southern States en-
joyed summer-like weather. Tenn
peratures climbed to record marks.
A forecast of warmer weather
IN the Midwest flood belt brought
a new threat of quick thaw and
faster flooding. Rain and sleet
over the Ohio River valley to the
Gulf heightened the peril of de-
veloping floods in major streams.
Memphis was recovering from
the worst ice storms to hit the
Mississippi River town of $4,000
in II years.
The sun shone for the first time
in week. Bus service improved
quickly as the sun melted and
power and telephone line repairs
were speeded.
In Chicago. the Weather Bu-
reau warned a cold wave would
strike that area tonight. New Eng
land also was advised sub-freezing
temperatures would return soon.
Rain-swollen streams spilled out
over thousands of lowlands in
parts of Illinois, Indiana and Mis-
souri,. Floods also were reported
in middle Tennessee and north
east Mississippi but were regarded
as not serious. Many schools
throughout the area have been
closed.
500 Families Forced Out.
In Indiana alone, the Red Cross
reported 500 families already had
been forced to leave their homes
IN a dozen communities.
The Army prepared to send 800
soldiers from Fort Knox, KY, to
Vincennes, Ind. today as the crest
Of the Wabash Rivers worst flood
since 1943 surged toward Terre
Haute ana Vincennes.
The Wabash, on the Illinois,
Indiana border. the White River
and other streams have over
flowed their banks at many points.
The Wabash had inundated parts
OF Logansport and Delphi. Water
poured four feet deep over High
way Al at Attica, cutting off the
town from the north and west.
Forty prisoners from the, In
diana State Penal Farm at Put
namville went to Terre Haute last
night to help strengthen levees.
Five blocks were flooded at Mar
tinsville and 100 families pre-
pared to move from the White
River lowlands.
The Red Gross declared a state
OF emergency at Lawrenceville,
ILL.,, On the Wabash River along
the States eastern boundary. The
Embarrass and the Kaskaskia
Rivers also were out of their
banks at many points.
Some families and livestock in
the lowlands near Columbus, Miss.
were evacuated as the Pearl and
Tombigbee Rivers started rising to
Hood stage. Many highways were
closed.
There were some flood condi-
tions in Western and Southwest
ern Ohio, but no serious danger |
appeared. Rain-swollen creeks
and rivers flooded some homes and
blocked roads. A few families in |
the lowlands of the Little Miami
River. in the Dayton-Springfield
area, moved out of their honnes