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Natural Disasters

late 1930's fire Tom Morgan's Cleaners, Cora DeCapito's Cafe, B.T. Buckles Barber Shop, as well as two lunch rooms were destroyed by fire.
1938 April fire A fire destroyed the high school auditorium. Damage was estimated between $15,000 and $20,000.
1941 flood The Fishing River overflowed its banks, and before the flood ended 20 inches of water in the Hall of Waters basement did close to $10,000 damage, and water rose to the 32-foot mark on the sides of buildings.
1943 flood A flood hit and completely filled the bottling works and boiler rooms at the Hall of Waters.
1947 tornado A tornado touched down at Lake Maurer and Crescent Lake, destroying residences and cabins.
1947 flood Fourteen days after the tornado touched down, water pushed over the banks of the fishing river, leaving extensive damage to public and private property.
1953 fire About 1953? Washington Elementary School, located at the intersection of Highways 69 and 92, burned.
1969 flood Hall of Waters flooded along with several other areas in town including the hospital. Many homes were evacuated until the waters receded.
1972 fire Two 11-year olds confessed to setting fire to Isley Elementary, doing $100,000 damage and forcing 200 students to move to temporary facilities.
1974 flood Floods caused $1.8 million damage. More than 30 cars were submerged, four bridges were damaged, water and sewer mains broke, more than 50 homes and two floors of the Hall of Waters suffered damage, and water was chest-high in Roosevelt Field.
1975 fire Conoco Bulk Oil facility caught fire. An explosion of a diesel truck started the fire. Residents were evacuated from their homes for fear that oil storage tanks would catch fire.
1977 tornado A tornado hit Lake Maurer, South Marietta, and Seybold Road, ripping up houses and trees. Five people were injured, 11 homes were destroyed, and Excelsior Springs was declared a disaster area.
1977 September flood In September a flood caused $2 million in damage.
1977 November fire Arson fires burned down Foster's Cinema, Fun House Pool Hall Apartments, Tom's Pool Hall, and a home owned by the girls track coach.

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Last Updated 8/1/2002