On March 17, 1936, the streets of Johnstown were filled with panic as residents desperately searched for higher ground.
A rumor had spread that the Quemahoning dam had burst. It was hours before that was proven false, but a flood was still on its way.
"It wasn't a flash flood. It was a fairly gradual flood. You had a record stream melt with additional rain. It was a really cold winter, the snow melted quickly and the streams started rising," said Richard Burket, the president of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association.
The winter of 1936 had covered the city with snow, which still remained on the mountains in March. Heavy rain, mixed with sudden warm temperatures, caused the snow to melt and led to the flood.
Floodwatersfilled the city slowly compared to the Johnstown flood of 1889, which came without warning. By midnight, parts of the area were under 15 feet of water. Downtown Johnstown was one of the most heavily affected.
"It picked up automobiles and toppled over streetcars," said Burket.
Eight people drowned, and a dozen more died of heart attacks, pneumonia and other causes directly related to the flood.
Damage estimates were over $40 million.
The flood was the catalyst for major flood control in the city. Shortly after, the Army Corps of Engineers built the River Channel Improvement Project.
Six years, 8.9 miles and over $7 million later, river walls were complete, and there was no significant flooding for 40 years.
It wasn't until July 20, 1977, that another flood struck, showing the city isn't flood-proof.
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