Alton Flood of 1996

[mcdude]

Remember the Dam breach and flood of 1996? There was an extensive article on this event which I believe appeared in Yankee Magazine. Does anyone have a copy of this article that you would be willing to copy and let me have for my 'archives'?

Click for more photos (http://www.nhoem.state.nh.us/mitigation/fig%201-9.htm)

http://www.nhoem.state.nh.us/mitigation/Photos/Alton%20Dam/ALTDAM4.jpg

An earthen-dam break sending damaging flood waters through a small New Hampshire town demonstrates the need for reinspection of private dams, a University of Tennessee civil engineer said Wednesday.

The town of Alton, N.H., is cleaning up from the Wednesday flood which damaged some homes and many vehicles, tore up a quarter-mile section of highway and left one woman missing.

The dam, built on private property to protect low-lying areas from hillside runoff, was rebuilt several years ago. The lake it formed covered about 15 acres.

[Zee]

If I recall correctly, one man lost his life. At the time they hadn't found the body. Did they ever recover him? :(

[KPW]

I believe it was a woman who lost her life. She was following her husband who was trying to get his tractor trailer to higher ground.

[pmj]

I've lived here for 2 years and hadn't heard of this. Where did it happen?

pmj

[upthesaukee]

As you head out to Gilmanton on Rte 140, the property where the dam was located was to the right of rte 140 at the top of the hill above the Merrymeeting. The water came down to the Merrymeeting near the crossing of 140. Very tragic event.

[pmj]

Thanks for the information..what a tragedy!

pmj

[ghfromaltonbay]

If anyone wants a copy of the article from Yankee Magazine just let me know. I knew pack rat that I am that I had the article here somewhere. The article was in the November 1996 issue.

[mcdude]

gh: If you could get that article to me I will scan and post it for posterity's sake! I actually went to the library today and found out that it was in the Nov. 1996 edition of Yankee Magazine. It was not available at that library but they were going to do a regional library search and get it to me. Pretty impressive, but, probably easier if you could send it along. Private Message me and we can make contact. Thanks gh! See you at the Winterfest in February? McD

[mcdude]

Many thanks to ghfromaltonbay for sending this along.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15022/medium/20dam_1.jpg
I'm going to have to post these in the "HUGE" mode as they will be too small to read otherwise. Sorry to those with slow browsers!
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15022/20dam_2.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15022/20dam_3.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15022/20dam_4.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15022/20dam_5.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15022/20dam_6.jpg
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopost/data/15022/20dam_7.jpg


Again, Many thanks to ghfromaltonbay!