Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
This souvenir postcard shows an unidentified street scene in a Portsmouth neighborhood.
The only clue to the locale is a handwritten note on the card: “This is Portsmouth near hill
top.” Rescue boats evacuated an estimated 8,000 Portsmouth residents from their flooded
homes, but, amazingly, the flood claimed only one life—a mother who drowned when a boat
capsized. A fireman pulled to safety her 18-month-old baby but was unable to save her.
Swept off his feet by the raging floodwaters, this Portsmouth man faced certain death by
drowning. Twice he missed the rope thrown to him by would-be rescuers. Finally, on a third
