Potomac Flash Floods

The disaster that lead to the Flood Control Act of 1936

Map of Flood-Affected Towns

The Potomac River makes up the border between Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. The points along this map represent many of the towns that reported massive amounts of flooding in March of 1936.

Timeline of Events Leading to the Potomac Floods of 1936

(Early) February 1936

The beginning of the month had many days below zero, allowing for snowpack to accumulate in the mountains of West Virginia.

(Late) February 1936

A significant warmth in the area caused the gradual melting of this snowpack. By the end of the month, D.C and Baltimore had no snow on the ground.

(Early) March 1936

With temperatures lingering in the high 60s and above-average rainfall, many parts of the Appalachian region reached their typical March rainfall totals by mid-month.

March 11th, 1936

A storm originating in the Gulf of Mexico delivered 2-3 inches of rainfall to the region over a short period, further raising already elevated stream levels.

March 17th, 1936

Just six days later on St. Patrick's Day, a storm caused by a strong low-pressure system of the Carolina's pumped heavy rainfall into the Blue Ridge area. 5+ inches of rain fell in some areas in just a day.


The Actual Impacts

“The tremendous destruction around the City Hall and on Centre and Mechanic streets southward is evidenced by slime and mud overspreading everything, storefronts missing, glass cracked, and stock or equipment cleaned out and washed away as if some giant hand had reached in and tore it asunder.”

The Cumberland Evening Times

The devastating flood claimed the lives of over 150 people across Maryland and the broader Northeast region, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The financial toll was staggering, with damages estimated at $3,000,000 at the time—equivalent to over $65 million in today’s dollars. Occurring during the Great Depression, a period marked by widespread economic hardship, the disaster had an especially severe impact on smaller, less affluent communities. Many of these towns and neighborhoods, already struggling to survive amidst the economic downturn, found themselves unable to recover from the overwhelming losses caused by the flood. The combination of physical devastation and financial ruin meant that some communities were permanently displaced, their histories and livelihoods washed away. This event serves as a grim reminder of how natural disasters can exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and reshape entire regions


This interactive map, developed by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, shows the extent of floodwaters in the Washington, D.C. area.


The Aftermath

Following the destruction in Maryland and the Northeast, President Roosevelt swiftly enacted the Flood Control Act of 1936. This landmark legislation, the first in the United States, authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to build levees and floodwalls in high-risk areas to mitigate future flooding.