Evening star., 1954-10-17
Potomac River Nears
17-Fooi Flood Stage,
Highest in Il Years

The Potomac River was to
reach its highest flood stage since
1912 above Chain Bridge tonight
or early tomorrow in the wake Of
Hurricane Hazel.
The Weather Bureau predicted
the water would reach II feet at
the Letter Gage between Chain
Bridge and Great Falls.
Authorities did not expect this
would be troublesome to resi-
dents, but the water probably
will come up over the wall at
Hains Point as far as the side
walks.
In addition, boaters were
warned that there would be
strong currents and considerable
floating debris.
Cleanup Crews Busy.
Meanwhile fair and cool
weather was predicted for today,
with a high in the lower SOS, as
city crews continue the huge job
of clearing Washington streets
Of tree branches downed by
Hazel's ripping winds.
Sanitation Supt. William Zan-
ten. who predicted the cleanup in
Washington alone would require
a week, had more than 400 men
working yesterday.
Highway Director j. N. Rob-
ertson said he had 100 men
working yesterday and expected
to have 140 on the job today.
In addition, the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Co. lent the services
of Is men yesterday. Mr.. Rob-
ertson hoped for another crew
today.
The highway director expects
to have traffic lights back in
working order on all major thor
oughfares tomorrow. If not, the
Police Department will be asked
to man unlighted intersections.
1000 Trees Damaged.
Mr.. Robertson estimated 1t
was costing at least $4,000 in
overtime pay to work the cleanup
crews. He said about 1000
trees were damaged in the Dis
trict, not including those in the
parks.
About $50 to 200 trees were
reported down. It was expected
that some of the damaged trees
would have to come down alto
gether.
Nearby Virginia and Maryland
also were clearing up the damage
wrought by gale winds that
reached a gust of SO miles an
hour during the hurricanes S
visit to this area.
The area took some comfort,
however, in the fact that the
storm brought badly needed
rain-measured at Ito inches at
the National Airport.
Potomac Basin Flooded.
And the hurricane itself was
spent, after reigning for IL hours
over the area between the Appa-
iachians and the coast from the
time she hit the continental
United States at Myrtle Beach
S. c., until she waned into west
ern New York State.
The heavy rains accompanying
the storm resulted in some flood
ing In the Potomac Basin above
Washington. The river crested
seven feet above flood stage al
Cumberland yesterday morning
and a crest Of % to "a feet-fivt
/ feet above flood stage-was ex.
pected at Harpers Ferry by moor
today. Light to moderate flooding
was expected down to Washing
ton.
The Weather Bureau callee
for precautions along low riyel
bank areas from Great Falls te
the Washington Harbor area.
Tides should not be quite a.
high in the Washington Harbol
area as they were Friday, how.
ever. the bureau said
Engineers Watch Situation.
1t was expected that the rivel
would reach 8.5 feet at Wiscon.
sin avenue, but this is not a.
high as the 9 feet measured from
Friday nights high tides.
The Army Engineer Corps was
closely watching the situation
ready to build sandbag dikes il
excessively high tides developed
Men were being kept on the