The Flood of 1938

Overflowing Santa Ana River, near the current MWD plant in Fountain Valley (Photo courtesy O.C. Archives)

This is the 70th anniversary of one of Orange County's most widespread disasters, the Flood of 1938. 

After five days of pounding rain, the Santa Ana River was flowing at 100,000 cubic feet of water per second.  At 1:00 a.m., on March 3, 1938, debris accumulating under several bridges finally pushed the water over the banks. And so began Orange County's worst natural disaster; ironically, construction of the Prado Dam was set to begin in only four months.  

 

Sweeping toward the Pacific, the water covered much of populated Orange County, two to fifteen feet deep. Hardest hit were the low-lying communities of La Jolla and Atwood in the Santa Ana Canyon. Those who were awake –and survived – will never forget the roar of the approaching eight-foot wall of water. 

The scene at Atwood, as the flood waters receded.

The flood killed at least 38 Orange County residents and left 2,000 homeless. Property damage was estimated at $14 million.  Almost every bridge on the river was destroyed, isolating communities and knocking out most utilities. 

 

As the deluge passed, the County banned visitors to the distressed areas. The National Guard and Civilian Conservation Corps patrolled to prevent looting, while law enforcement officers and private citizens searched for missing residents. The community of Atwood, located in Placentia, after the flood subsided.  

The Red Cross supplied food and organized shelter for thousands. The American Legion, YMCA, cities and schools provided shelter space as well. Although flooding made the County Hospital inaccessible, vaccinations became mobile and were available at multiple locations. The Salvation Army gave clothing, furniture and bedding to those in need. 

 

Waves roll through streets of Anaheim, 3-3-1938 (Photo courtesy Anaheim Public Library)

Over time, riverbanks and levees were rebuilt. The Works Progress Administration and County Road Department worked day and night to reopen roads and highways. State, County, and City engineers came together to treat sewage, rebuild sewer lines and prevent an epidemic. 

 

The County provided disaster relief money and approached the State and Federal government for reimbursement. Most of the cleanup and repair was complete by mid-summer. In the decades that followed, the Federal government would spend billions taming the Santa Ana River, a process that continues even today.

UPDATE (9/2026): There was originally a "Part 2" post following this one, which was mostly made up of links that are now kaput. I've now pulled down Part 2, but wanted to save some of the great comments that were left there on March 5 and 6 of 2008,... 

Bulldog 24 said...

In the basement (fruit Celler)and under my small Sears (Kit Home)1920Fullerton bungalow home is silt from the Great Flood of 1938. Brea Canyon Creek, a few blocks away had overflowed that night putting water "porch high" in the neighborhood. There is only one person left on our block that remembers that night as a child.

Anonymous said...

I work for the Orange County Water District and many I know have also assumed that Prado Dam was constructed due to the 1938 flood. However, I was surprised to learn when meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers that it was the 1927 flood that spurred the local community and congress to act to build Prado Dam. As described in chapter 3 of the USACOE's Prado Dam Water Control Manual (http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/resreg/htdocs/Publications.html), the project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of June 22, 1936, well before the 1938 flood. This makes sense as Prado Dam was completed in 1941 and I doubt the federal government could have moved that fast to design, fund and build the dam.

ItsNotAPlace said...

Wow... that is new information. I had always heard that Prado was built in response to the 38 flood. But it does sound un-believable that the federal government would move that quickly!

S. said...

The Placentia Public Library recently produced a short documentary about the 1938 flood and its impact on the community of Placentia. It features long time resident, Eddie Castro, who provides eyewitness testimony to the devastation. The DVD is available for purchase or one can borrow it from the library: http://www.placentialibrary.net/library/

On another note, my parents' home on Broadway in Anaheim still contains evidence of those days, as well. My grandparents built the house in fall 1936 (with redwood from the "old" Loara School) and within fourteen months, it was filled with flood water. Interestingly, learning about the "dirt" under my built-in closets - when I was five - was my first encounter with local history that had palpable meaning for me.

Anonymous said...

The sad thing is that county voters turned down the bonds to build a dam on the Santa Ana River in the late 1920s. A great deal of death and destruction could have been prevented.

Cynthia Ward, Architectural Historian said...

Ooh, I want to talk to bulldog about his Sears house (I have info for you) and Stephanie about her parents house on Broadway.

Anonymous said...

If Atwood is the neighborhood around Orangethorpe and the railroad tracks between Van Buren and Richfield, I'm pretty sure it is a part of Placentia...

Anonymous said...

I am from the community of Atwood which is in the City of Placentia today. In our community many of our elders have told the stories over and over of the flood of 38 and the lives lost in that storm. They tell it as if it was yesterday. Some were very young, but still recall taking refuge in the hills of Yorba Linda and others have passed on to meet their creator. The flood of 38 is our community's history and has been passed on from generation to generation.

Chris Jepsen said...

Although enormous progress has been made in taming the Santa Ana River, we're still not entirely out of the woods. There are still some areas of the Santa Ana Valley considered to be very high flood risks by the Army Corps of Engineers. Here's hoping we take care of our remaining flood control needs sooner rather than later. BTW, thanks for sharing your stories and insights, everyone!