Hurricane Agnes and the Flood of 1972

South Central Regional Library Council

Volunteers Sandbagging on West Street in Auburn

Volunteers Sandbagging on West Street, Auburn - Image Source

Collection Facts

Extent:

Dates of Original:

1972, 2022

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Historical Context

Hurricane Agnes dropped an unprecedented rainfall on the twin tiers in June of 1972. Eventually, it was enough to cause the rivers of South Central New York, including the Chemung, the Cohocton, the Susquehanna, the Owasco, and others flooded their banks. Cities including Corning and Elmira were devastated by the floodwaters, while cities like Auburn were only mildly affected.

Scope of Collection

Oral history interviews conducted in 2022 complement photographs contributed by local residents.

This collection was supported with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to the New York State Library by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).