HOUSES TORN FROM FOUNDATIONS.

Chronicle (Levin), 1 June 1948, Page 5

HOUSES TORN FROM FOUNDATIONS.

The flood waters at Vanport first buried a shack wherein a nian was killed and then crashed into the weatherboard apartment houses. Walls of water poured through the town like ocean breakers, tearing the flimsy wood on houses from their foundations and sending them whirling along with the current. VerV few of scores houses were still standing three hours after the water swept over the area. "When the flood first struek residents of the second floors he lieved they were safe, but as the level rose it jerked the buildings loose and swirled them around like matehboxes. Some crnmliled and others turned over. Thosc that remained up.right floated aerosS the flooded area and smashed into others. buildings folded up like aecordions in Ihe crusli. Xo oue even atteni])ted to salvage his belongings. The people fled as they were. Mothers tossed their youngsters from windows 1.' rescuers heneath.

A Red Cross worker said a family in a car was paralysed by fi'ight as the water rose, They] were unahi e to move. Xone of the occupants were soen to leave tlie car. Scores of weeping people sat along the high land area surrounding the flooded seetor. They stared at every passer hoping to see a lost relativo. Children were tied together to prevent straying Red Cross offieials and the poliee said it would he perhaps soveral davs before the toll of vietims was estnblished offioiallv. *