Napa River flood of 1986 facts for kids
| Location | Napa County |
|---|---|
| Deaths | 3 |
| Property damage | 7000 people evacuated, 250 homes destroyed |
The Napa River flood of 1986 was a very serious flood that hit Napa, California. Many people think it was the worst flood in the area during the 20th century. It caused a lot of damage and changed how people in Napa thought about flood control.
Contents
The Great Napa River Flood of 1986
In 1986, a huge amount of rain fell in Napa. About 20 inches of rain came down in just two days! This caused the Napa River to overflow its banks. The flood was a major event for the city and its people.
What Happened During the Flood?
The flood had a big impact on the community. About 7,000 people had to leave their homes to stay safe. Sadly, 250 homes were completely destroyed, and another 2,500 homes were damaged. Three people also lost their lives because of the flood. The total cost of the damage was around $100 million.
Learning from the Flood: Preventing Future Disasters
After the 1986 flood, people in Napa realized they needed to do more to stop future floods. They wanted to fix problems that made the river flow slowly. These problems included natural blockages and things people had built.
Because of this, the Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District started working on a big plan. This plan is called the Napa River Flood Project. Its goal is to control the river and prevent such large floods from happening again.
Other Floods in Napa
While the 1986 flood was the biggest, Napa has experienced other floods too. On December 31, 2005, another flood happened after more than a week of rain. This flood was not as bad as the one in 1986. There were also smaller floods in 1995 and 1997. These events remind everyone about the importance of flood control efforts.
