Photos and video of giant slabs of ice in Niobrara, deposited after the Spencer Dam failed, appear almost other-worldly.
But it's not the first time floodwaters have wreaked havoc on the town of about 370 people in Knox County.
Flooding has forced the town to move three times, according to a History Nebraska blog post titled "Niobrara: A Town Too Tough to Stay Put."
According to History Nebraska:
Niobrara was established in 1857 along the Missouri River, about a mile southeast of its confluence with the Niobrara River.
In March 1881, an ice jam flooded the town with 3 to 6 feet of water. By April, the town had been flooded three times. Teamsters, armed with house jacks, winches and capstans, blocks-and-tackle, oxen, mules and horses moved Niobrara, building by building, to the benchland a mile and a half to the southwest.
People are also reading…
Although moving an entire town seems remarkable, Niobrara was moved again in the 1970s when a rising water table, caused by Gavins Point Dam, threatened the town. The third, and current, town of Niobrara was dedicated on July 4, 1977.
Photos, video from flood-ravaged areas:
Photos, videos: #NebraskaStrong in flood-ravaged areas
Outrunning the water
North Bend hero
Levee breach
Sweet messages
Nebraska City aerial
This is Nebraska City and the miles-wide Missouri River behind it.
— NEStatePatrol (@NEStatePatrol)
Operation Prairie Hay Drop photos
The has been supporting the ongoing response in Eastern Nebraska following massive flooding on the state’s river systems which began a week ago and caused catastrophic damage to the state’s infrastructure and agriculture.
— NE National Guard (@NENationalGuard)
(3/3)
Washed-up chunk of ice
Cleanup in Beatrice
Missouri River at Nebraska 2/I-29
Much-needed rest
📸- Waterloo firefighter getting some much needed rest after spending hours making rescues Sunday. |
— Omaha Scanner (@omaha_scanner)
Horses rescued
Empty shelves
Seeing empty shelves at the store because all of the products were purchased for flood relief and trucks full of supplies in front of DSAC made me so proud of our community!
— Ally Logan (@AllyJ_Logan)
View of the Platte/Missouri
View of the Platte looking west near the confluence with the Missouri River.
— Maj Gen Daryl Bohac (@NETAGBohac)
Edge of Offutt
(at the edge of Offutt Air Force Base)
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse)
North Bend ovation
Great moment: at tonight’s North Bend community meeting the North Bend Fire Department recieves a standing ovation for their tireless work during the flood. 😅
— North Bend Eagle (@northbendeagle)
Pence with rescuers
Americans like Brad Brown & his airboat co-pilot Jake Rohr are the heart of the heartland. Brad & Jake have been helping victims of the flooding & delivering much needed supplies. Grateful for their service & ALL the volunteers & emergency personnel helping Nebraskans in need!
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP)
Lincoln help for Santee Sioux
Buying out the bleach
When you go to the grocery store and your hometown bank is buying out all the bleach in Laurel to take to Osmond for flood cleanup.
— Melissa S Graham (@MelissaSGraham1)
Help from North Platte
— Chandra Laine (@ChandraLaine)
We are a group of volunteers gathering donations in North Platte Ne . We sent one semi to Fremont. We have two more semi trailers almost full.Get our 4th semi on Thursday. To the people, Your battle is our battle. We stand with you. We got you! â¤
Help for farmers
Thanks to generious donations to the Disaster Relief Fund, we were able to deliver supplies to farmers along the Niobrara River. We brought them milk replacement for calves and medicine. Help us do more good by donating to the fund:
— Nebraska Farm Bureau (@NEFarmBureau)
Niobrara ice chunks
Trooper Viterna #480 standing next to ice chunks from the Niobrara River that were left behind after causing all kinds of damage.
— NSP Troop B Nights (@NSPTroopBNights)
Sandbagging at Cooper
A Nebraska National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter picks up sandbags to take to the Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville as part of the response to historic flooding. Video courtesy Nebraska State Patrol.
— NE National Guard (@NENationalGuard)
Pence in Nebraska
Visited the relief shelter at Elkhorn Middle School today to let the Nebraska flood victims know and I are WITH them & to thank the incredible military personnel & volunteers helping those impacted. THANK YOU!
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP)
I-680 Mormon bridge
Wow. The 680 Mormon bridge east side pic this afternoon. This much water even with the river already having crested.
— Paul West (@PaulWestCoach)
Sasse surveying damage
Where is the river?
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse)
And where is it not? uggh...
Latest from NEMA
Declared jurisdictions as of 3:00 p.m. today.
— NEMA (@NEMAtweets)
Repairing the roads
Beer fridge was stocked!
For those of you that don't know, our state of is going through record flooding. Sometimes though, the world sends you a break. These guys went to their and found a fully-stocked .
— Fat Boy Wild Game (@gameseasonings)
Bellevue aftermath
Flying in supplies
The Nebraska flooding is so heartbreaking but the whole state has stepped up to help. I can’t be more proud of my brother for flying his plane to Fremont with baby supplies to help. Proud to be from Nebraska
— Michelle Galles (@WakefieldFCCLA)
Offutt before and after
Historic flooding in has over 74 cities under emergency declarations. Shown here are before and after images of Offutt Air Force Base along the River.
— DigitalGlobe (@DigitalGlobe)
Fremont aerials
I joined the Fremont National Guard in Nebraska today to get an aerial view of flooding impact as we traveled to thank volunteers in Fremont, NE, address a community meeting in Niobrara, and receive a briefing in Lynch. | |
— Scott (@FirstMinScott)
U.S. 81 south of Columbus
ðŸ“Hwy 81 south of Columbus open to passenger vehicles only. Be careful of 🚧construction 🚧equipment along highway
— NSP_TrooperGena (@NSP_TrooperGena)
Genoa, Fullerton
Headworks between Genoa and Fullerton. Back gravel road is gone. (Loup Power Park along the canal)
— NSP_TrooperGena (@NSP_TrooperGena)