Sutter County Flood: 1955

Interview with Marcella Slocum

art101dotcom@gmail.com (Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:25:27 -0800

Interview by Dutch Klemp with Marcella Slocum, who describes how she narrowly escaped death by climbing into a tree. Her father in law did not survive: "He kept saying he was getting too cold and after a while he didn't answer anymore."

Interview with Harry Chambers

art101dotcom@gmail.com (Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:08:31 -0800

Interview by Dutch Klemp with Harry Chambers; business owner and Aerial Squadron member who helped evacuations in Yuba City describes the scene near the levee break. "We picked up the people who couldn't get out any longer..."

Interview with Master Sgt. Oliver W. Franklin

art101dotcom@gmail.com (Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:08:48 -0800

Interview by Dutch Klemp with Master Sgt. Oliver W. Franklin, who juggled evacuating his wife and son with coordinating efforts to save the 5th Street bridge in Yuba City... and making sure that exhausted crews had coffee and sandwiches.

Interview with Loudon Parker

art101dotcom@gmail.com (Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:09:09 -0800

Interview by Dutch Klemp with Loudon Parker, who fled his home with wife Alvera and daughter Geraldine. "Did you ever see a horror picture? Something looked different... it all hit so fast."

Interview with Grace Nicolette

art101dotcom@gmail.com (Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:09:27 -0800

Interview by Dutch Klemp with Grace Nicolette, who fled her ranch during the 1955 Sutter County flood with her husband Charlie. Their home was washed off its foundation and destroyed in floodwaters 12 feet high.

Interview with Tom Grafton

art101dotcom@gmail.com (Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:09:45 -0800

Interview by Dutch Klemp with Tom Grafton, a Yuba City resident (15 years old at the time) whose family fled their home during the 1955 Sutter County flood. Their home was washed away in 14 feet of raging water when a nearby levee failed.

Interview with Phyllis Martin

art101dotcom@gmail.com (Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:10:04 -0800

Interview by Dutch Klemp with Phyllis Martin, a Yuba City resident who lost her father, Earnest Yates, in the 1955 Sutter County flood. Her family home and business were also severely damaged.

Interview with Norma Bartlett

art101dotcom@gmail.com (Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:10:26 -0800

Interview by Dutch Klemp with Norma Bartlett, a Yuba City mother who was trapped on the roof of her car with her two-year old son for nearly seven hours before being rescued. Her husband drowned while trying to reach her side.