Re: [Cz-L] The flood of 1927

Miriam (Mimi) Taylor <mirtaylo_at_indiana.edu>

I very much doubt that in Sept. 1927, Czernowitz experienced a flood which
completely submerged the city. Had such a flood occurred, I am sure people
would have talked about it for many years, yet I never heard it mentioned.
They talked about the famine of WW1, about the terrible winter of 1940-41,
when the temperature fell to -40 degrees (Celsius or Farenheit, they happen
to be the same.) and the earthquake of the summer of 1940 or 1941, the
scarlet fever epidemic of 1924, but flood?

It is possible that the lower, northern parts of the city might have been
flooded, but as Bruce writes, the center of the city is certainly too high.

Best regards to all,

Mimi

> Dear Czernowitzers:
>
> I'm reprinting a post sent to the JewishGen discussion group, with
> permission of the sender. Could Czernowitz have been "submerged" in
> September 1927? I have a hard time imagining the city center
> submerged, considering its elevation above river level.
>
> Best wishes to everyone,
>
> Bruce
>
> ***************************************************************
> Subject: 1927 Flood in Galicia
> From: "Ann Rabinowitz" <annrab_at_bellsouth.net>
> Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 09:49:56 -0400
>
> According to the September 9, 1927 issue of the Jewish Chronicle (London),
> there was a catastrophic flood in Galicia in 1927. Perhaps it was what one
> would call a 100 year flood here in the United States which is one which
> happens once in a hundred years and tops all previous records.
>
> Whole villages in the area of Lemberg, Przemysl, Strij, and Borislav were
> destroyed. The Baron de Hirsch Foundation buildings in Galicia were
> destroyed.
>
> The entire province of Stanislav was flooded and in Lemberg, 132 villages
> were under water. In Czernowitz, they were completely submerged.
>
> Ica (Jewish Colonization Association) and the Joint (Joint Distribution
> Committee) were called upon for emergency assistance and the Polish Cabinet
> gave 2 million zlotys for the relief of the flood victims.
>
> This most major and calamitous an event may have precipitated the movement
> of individuals to emigrate and settle elsewhere.
>
> It may also be a reason why records or family heirlooms or property cannot
> be found from that time period as they may have been destroyed by the
> flooding.
>
> Ann Rabinowitz
> annrab_at_bellsouth.net
>
>
Received on 2007-05-28 04:06:06