The White River crested at Anderson in March 1913 at a record 22.1 feet on the gauge then in use, and floodwaters broke through the Anderson levees on March 25, causing heavy property damage. For a basement, that record is a reference point for the water line, not a forecast of what the next flood will do.
Key takeaways
- The Midwest Regional Climate Center's flood profile for Anderson records the March 1913 crest at 22.1 feet on the gauge then in use.
- The same profile gives the equivalent height at the Anderson Waterworks site as 23.6 feet.
- Floodwaters broke through the Anderson levees on March 25, 1913, causing heavy property damage.
- The Indiana State Library's Madison County collection records the destruction of the Union Traction bridge over the White River in North Anderson in March 1913.
- The 1913 record measures one flood under the conditions of its day, and it does not set a limit on future water.
- A basement near the river is checked against its own marked water line after any high water, and that line is photographed.
What did the March 1913 crest actually measure?
The March 1913 crest measured the height of the White River at Anderson at its peak, recorded at 22.1 feet on the gauge then in use. The same water level is given as 23.6 feet at the Anderson Waterworks site, because the two reference points were not the same.
A crest is the highest point the water surface reaches during a flood. The figure for it depends on where the reading was taken and what zero point the gauge used. Two gauges can record the same water surface at different numbers when their zero points differ, which is why the Midwest Regional Climate Center gives the 1913 crest in two forms. Neither number is wrong, but each has to be read with its own reference.
For a homeowner, the value of the figure is as a reference for the water that reached the city in 1913. It shows how high one flood climbed, and it is a starting point for asking how high the water has stood since. It does not say how high the water will stand next time, and a reader should be careful about turning a single peak into a rule.
| Figure | What it describes | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 22.1 feet | The March 1913 crest on the gauge then in use at Anderson | Midwest Regional Climate Center flood profile, Anderson |
| 23.6 feet | The same crest expressed at the Anderson Waterworks site | Midwest Regional Climate Center flood profile, Anderson |
| March 25, 1913 | The day floodwaters broke through the Anderson levees | Midwest Regional Climate Center flood profile, Anderson |
What did the levee breaks of March 25, 1913 mean for the city?
Floodwaters broke through the Anderson levees on March 25, 1913, and the result was heavy property damage. A levee breach brings force, debris and fast-moving water into the areas behind it, which is a different kind of damage from a slow rise of the river.
A levee is built to hold water back from the ground behind it. When the water breaks through, the flow comes quickly and carries whatever it picks up. That can mean doors forced, floors lifted, walls pushed out of line and debris left in rooms that the water reached only briefly. The damage is often concentrated near the points of entry, and the rooms beyond them can be harder to reach.
For a homeowner today, the lesson is about the difference between a slow rise and a breach. A slow rise gives a building time to take water gradually. A breach can leave less time and more force. A basement that has been through a breach may show marks of force, such as bent doors, cracked frames or displaced material, as well as water lines. A technician reads both kinds of mark.
What did the Union Traction bridge loss show about the river?
The Indiana State Library's Madison County collection records that the Union Traction bridge over the White River in North Anderson was destroyed in March 1913. The loss shows how far the flood's force reached across the river's structures, not only its low ground.
A bridge is built to stand in water and against the current, yet it was destroyed in the same flood that broke the levees. The record shows the force the river could bring to bear on built structures. That is a useful reminder for anyone in a low building near the river that the water may carry more than its depth suggests.
The bridge is not a measure of any particular basement. It is evidence of the flood's power, and a homeowner should not read it as a prediction for a specific address. The useful step is to look at the lower walls, the doors and the foundation after high water, and to record anything that looks displaced.
How should a basement be read against the 1913 water line?
A basement is read against its own marked water line, not against the 1913 figure, unless a mark in the building can be tied to 1913. The homeowner should measure any old line that is visible and record where it sits, because an old mark is a better local reference than a city-wide record.
Some homes carry an old water line on a wall, a foundation, a stair or a post. Where one exists, it is worth measuring its height above the floor and photographing it. If the mark can be tied to a documented flood, it becomes a local reference. If it cannot, it is still a record of where the water once stood in that building.
After any high water, a new line should be marked and measured as well. A marker made in pencil with its date, or a photograph with a tape measure in view, is enough. Over time these marks let a homeowner compare one event with another in the same building, which the city-wide record cannot do.
Does the 1913 record predict the next flood?
No. The 1913 record describes one flood at one time, under the conditions and the gauge of that year. It shows what the White River has done, and it is a reason to plan, but it does not set a ceiling on the water a future flood can bring.
A reader may ask whether the 1913 crest is the highest the river will ever reach. The honest answer is that a single record cannot say so. Rivers change with rainfall, with the land around them and with the way the water is managed. A record is evidence about the past, and it can support a plan, but it is not a forecast.
The useful question for a homeowner is what happens to the lowest level of the house when the river is high. The answer depends on the house, its entry points and its drainage, and it is best found by walking the building with the 1913 record as a reminder that high water has come before.
What should a homeowner near the river do now?
Know where the main water shut-off is, photograph the lowest level and its water marks, check the sump and the drains, and keep the number for the 24/7 line where it can be found quickly. Those steps cost little and save time when water arrives.
Start with the lowest room. Photograph it, note any water marks, and measure their height. Check the sump if there is one, and confirm it runs by pouring a bucket into the pit and watching the pump start. Look at the window wells, the door thresholds and any opening that sits below the ground outside.
Then plan the first hours. Decide who moves the valuables from the lowest floor, where the shut-offs are, and what to do if the power is out. Keep the phone number in a place that does not depend on the house's power. A crew is sent as soon as one is free, and the first visit starts from what the homeowner can describe.
How does the 1913 record help a claim?
The 1913 record is background, not evidence for a specific claim. An insurer will look at the damage to the building as it was found, the readings taken at the time and the photographs. The historical record can explain why a river flood is a recognized risk in Anderson, but it does not decide any claim.
A claim turns on the policy and on the damage to the property. The insurer and the policy decide what is covered, and the historical record is not a substitute for the documentation of the loss. A homeowner should photograph the water line and the damage, and keep the readings and the receipts.
Where a homeowner has an old water line that can be tied to a documented flood, that mark can be useful background. It should be described accurately, with its height and its location, and it should not be presented as a measurement of the current event unless it has been checked.
Frequently asked questions
What was the highest the White River reached at Anderson?
The Midwest Regional Climate Center's flood profile for Anderson gives the March 1913 crest as a record 22.1 feet on the gauge then in use, equal to 23.6 feet at the Anderson Waterworks site. Those are the figures this guide uses for that event.
Did the levees really break in 1913?
The climate center's flood profile says floodwaters broke through the Anderson levees on March 25, 1913, and caused heavy property damage. The profile is the source this guide relies on for that event.
Is my Anderson basement likely to flood like 1913?
This guide cannot say. A single record does not forecast a future flood, and the risk to a particular basement depends on the building, its entry points and the water around it. Check the lowest level, know its water marks and ask a technician about its specific risks.
Can I use the 1913 figure to measure my own water line?
Not directly. The 1913 figure was recorded on a gauge at a particular place, and it is not a measurement of your basement. Measure your own water line from its floor and compare it with other marks in your building.
Where can I read the climate center's record?
The climate center's 1913 flood profile for Anderson is published on its own site, at the address listed in this guide's sources. Read the profile directly rather than relying on a summary.
Who do I call if I see a water line in an old cellar?
Phones are answered 24/7. Describe the mark, its height and where it sits, and say whether it is still rising. A technician can record it on the first visit and add it to the file for any later work.
Sources
This guide is general information for Madison County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.