Waverly, Iowa record rainfall in the late 1960's

[Herkmeister]

I have a friend who claims Waverly, Iowa received 17" of rain in 5 1/2 hours some time in the late 1960's. He thinks and was about 1967. He also said 2 people died as the result of flooding. Neither he nor I can find anything on line about it so I call BS.

Does anyone know the year and any details? Thanks.

 

[Herkmeister]

Do we not have 1 NE Iowa historian out there?

 

[SCHawkFan]

July 16-17 1968. 16.2 inches in 24 hours.

 

[Herkmeister]

July 16-17 1968. 16.2 inches in 24 hours.

Thank you!!! How did you find that?

 

[jellyfish10]

I have a friend who claims Waverly, Iowa received 17" of rain in 5 1/2 hours some time in the late 1960's. He thinks and was about 1967. He also said 2 people died as the result of flooding. Neither he nor I can find anything on line about it so I call BS.

Does anyone know the year and any details? Thanks.

According to my dad it's true. He grew up on a farm north of Waverly in rural Plainfield. I saw the thread title and sent him a text. He was taking summer classes at Wartburg, July 1968. He said that basements were collapsing and and an elderly couple was killed near a creek during the storm. They had 18" on the farm according to my dad.

 

[Herkmeister]

According to my dad it's true. He grew up on a farm north of Waverly in rural Plainfield. I saw the thread title and sent him a text. He was taking summer classes at Wartburg, July 1968. He said that basements were collapsing and and an elderly couple was killed near a creek during the storm. They had 18" on the farm according to my dad.

Thanks. That what my friend was claiming. He said they had 16' boats with 6 men and a 35 hp motors going up streets by Wartburg where there wasn't any valley to hold the water. I can't imagine.

 

[SCHawkFan]

Thank you!!! How did you find that?

Googled Waverly record rainfall and found it. Minimal information other than 150 or so houses damaged.

 

[Herkmeister]

Googled Waverly record rainfall and found it. Minimal information other than 150 or so houses damaged.

Thanks. Don't know why we didn't see that when we Googled it. It was almost 50 years ago. Really appreciate your help.

 

[jellyfish10]

Thanks. Don't know why we didn't see that when we Googled it. It was almost 50 years ago. Really appreciate your help.

I'm curious as to the impetus of the question...

 

[Herkmeister]

I'm curious as to the impetus of the question...

Just a couple of old men talking smack. My friend starts telling me that when he was a kid in Waverly they got 17" in 5.5 hours and I called him out. So we're just trying to verify it. He wins. The guy loves Waverly.

 

[jellyfish10]

Just a couple of old men talking smack. My friend starts telling me that when he was a kid in Waverly they got 17" in 5.5 hours and I called him out. So we're just trying to verify it. He wins. The guy loves Waverly.

It is a very nice small town...best kayaking outfitter in NE Iowa, new downtown hotel, 2 nice golf courses, a nice trail system, new housing on the south edge of town, excellent school and athletic programs both high school and college, and 15 minutes from Waterloo/CF. Used to 'cruise' the main drag back in the day and I thought we were pretty damn cool!

 

[Herkmeister]

It is a very nice small town...best kayaking outfitter in NE Iowa, new downtown hotel, 2 nice golf courses, a nice trail system, new housing on the south edge of town, excellent school and athletic programs both high school and college, and 15 minutes from Waterloo/CF. Used to 'cruise' the main drag back in the day and I thought we were pretty damn cool!

So that is your home town?

 

[jellyfish10]

So that is your home town?

Nope...I grew up just a stone's throw away in Denver. My junior and senior year we beat them in basketball which back then was a big deal...the students from W-SR would dress up as hillbillies to mock the farm kids as if Waverly was some metropolis or something. It made it extra special to beat their asses. I hit a game winner as a junior and as we celebrated in the floor I may have lobbed the double birds at their students...then bawled like a school girl in the locker room./csb

Where are you from?

 

[Herkmeister]

Nope...I grew up just a stone's throw away in Denver. My junior and senior year we beat them in basketball which back then was a big deal...the students from W-SR would dress up as hillbillies to mock the farm kids as if Waverly was some metropolis or something. It made it extra special to beat their asses. I hit a game winner as a junior and as we celebrated in the floor I may have lobbed the double birds at their students...then bawled like a school girl in the locker room./csb

Where are you from?

DSM

Nice story on the game winner. One of the great moments life offers and one you will NEVER forget.

 

[jellyfish10]

DSM

Nice story on the game winner. One of the great moments life offers and one you will NEVER forget.

Gotcha...yeah it's so easy to poo-poo high school but as you age to realize what tremendous times they were.