“Christmas Flood” highlighted in local documentary
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- A new documentary highlights the devastating "Christmas Flood" in Santa Cruz, which nears its 65th anniversary on December 22.
"A Flood of Memories: Commemorating 65 Years Since the Flood of '55" takes a look back at the financial impact of a flood that swept away Santa Cruz's last "Chinatown" area.
Video author, Dan Model, says his focus for this two-part series is also on the effects of the river with the building of the levee system, and the response from local residents in the immediate aftermath of the flood who went on rescue operations using boats.
One witness to everything that unfolded the night of December 22, 1955 described 50 to 70 yards of water and huge 20 foot trees flowing through the area.
"[The trees] would hit the bridge and if they went in horizontal they'd get stuck. But if they came through [the bridge] they'd get sucked under and shoot out the other side and I mean it was powerful."
The documentary will appear on the Santa Cruz County Public Libraries YouTube page on the anniversary of the flood at 10 a.m.
