1936 Northeastern United States flood

The Holyoke Dam had a 5,000-square-foot (460 m²) section ripped out by an ice jam.[1]

In what was hailed as the "worst Connecticut floods in years", major damage occurred to transportation links, industries, and homes alike. The New Haven Railroad and Central Vermont Railway both reported numerous washouts along their tracks, while houses were carried away along the flooded Housatonic River in the western part of the state.[6] Across the state, evacuations were ordered in low-lying areas near rivers, with some families being rescued from their homes by rowboats.[6]

The Kennebec River was the scene of major flooding, resulting in multiple bridges being destroyed by floating ice.[2]^: 14 Damage along the Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers was increased by ice jams. Similarly, six bridges along the Saco River were destroyed by the advancing ice.[2]^: 15

In total, the Maine State Highway Commission reported 81 highway bridges were destroyed or damaged seriously enough to require rebuilding.[2]^: 15

Flooding in Keene, New Hampshire.

The Merrimack Valley experienced some of the worst flooding in all of New England. Hooksett, New Hampshire, was submerged by water as deep as 20 feet (6.1 m).[2]^: 17 The dam of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in Manchester was saved only by the use of more than 500,000 sandbags, though the company's facilities were severely damaged.[2]^: 17

In total, 87 municipalities in New Hampshire reported at least some level of flood damage.[11]^: 58

In Massachusetts, the worst flooding occurred along the Connecticut River. By March 19, at least 15,000 residents in Springfield had been made homeless by the floodwaters. The National Guard was activated to assist in search and rescue, fight off looters, and help rebuild. The Guard and the Springfield Police Department patrolled the city by boat, as roads were impassible by vehicles.[4]

The same day, a dam broke in Uxbridge, causing a 15-foot (4.6 m) high wall of water to flow down the Blackstone Valley.[12]

The Merrimack River crested at a record 68.4 feet (20.8 m) in Lowell, while the Connecticut River reached a maximum depth of 49.2 feet (15.0 m) in Montague, records which both stand as of 2015.[1]

A man navigates the flooded streets of Hartford in a rowboat.

Along the Connecticut River, many communities faced the worst flooding ever recorded. In Hartford, the river crested at 37.6 feet (11.5 m), a record which still stands as of 2015.[1] Twenty percent of downtown Hartford was navigable only by boat.[13] The city lost nearly all power and telephone communications, while more than 300 National Guardsmen deployed in the city to patrol the flooded streets and rescue those stranded by floodwaters.[14]

In Middletown, the entire city ground to a halt after power was knocked out by flooding. The bridge across the river to Portland was shut down, leaving the city "virtually isolated".[15]

The Blackstone River rose dangerously high in Rhode Island, with major flooding observed in Woonsocket, where some streets became navigable only by boat. In Pawtucket, water rose nearly as high as the city's bridges across the river.[16]

Pennsylvania experienced particularly devastating floods in Pittsburgh and Johnstown. In Johnstown, site of an infamous flood in 1889, residents feared a repeat of the dam failure that caused the previous flood. Fortunately for the region, the dam survived the flooding, but this did not stop the city's rivers from overflowing their banks and covering much of Johnstown in 12–14 feet (3.7–4.3 m) of floodwaters.[11]^: 63

Transportation in Pittsburgh ceased, as the city's railroad yards were flooded.[10]

By March 21, over 80,000 people had been made homeless in Pennsylvania.[10]

Two bridges in Harpers Ferry were destroyed by floodwaters, along with another in Shepherdstown. Lower Town Harpers Ferry was particularly devastated, and practically ceased to exist.[17]

Starting on March 17, Maryland was hit by severe flooding. The city of Cumberland, on the North Branch Potomac River, was particularly badly damaged, and the governor activated the Maryland National Guard to assist in relief efforts. In Cumberland alone, damage was estimated at over $50 million in today's dollars.[17]

The Potomac River crested at 47.6 feet (14.5 m) in Hancock, breaking the previous record set in 1889 by 7.9 feet (2.4 m).[18]

The Potomac and James Rivers suffered severe flooding during mid-March 1936.[19] Great Falls experienced what were, as of July 2014, its highest floods on record.[20] Washington, D.C., saw its airport, Washington-Hoover Airport in Arlington, Virginia, flooded.[21]

Flooding in the Washington Navy Yard.

Flooding reached the nation's capital on March 20. The Potomac River crested at 18.5 feet (5.6 m) under Key Bridge, which was the only bridge connecting the district to Virginia to remain above the waters.[22] Large portions of the National Mall were flooded, but there was enough warning for the Capitol Park Service to protect the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial by building a barrier of stone and sandbags, with the help of more than 3,000 men and multiple steam shovels.[9][23] Hains Point was impossible to see due to flooding, which was as high as the tops of trees.[17] Despite the large extent of flooding, there were no fatalities in Washington, D.C.[22]

Only minor flooding occurred in Delaware, mostly affecting farmland. The Indian River Inlet Bridge was slightly damaged by ice in the Delaware River. Damage was also reported to the jetties in Bethany Beach.[24]