Research

Scope and Content Note

The State Board of Equalization and Assessment used these maps indicating flooded area as reference sources in their inspection of, and determination of tax abatement or state assistance for, flood-damaged areas.

The maps are sections of United States Geological Survey topographic quadrangle maps annotated to show the impact of the flooding. Aerial photography and field surveys were carried out immediately after the flooding, and the maps were then prepared by the U.S.G.S. in cooperation with New York State and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The maps show land contours, waterways, and a few man-made features such as certain buildings (e.g. schools, hospitals), roads, and railroads. Heavy lines are drawn in indicating flooded areas. Annotations on the maps indicate specific flooding problems such as: "water over railroad bridge"; "3' in restaurant"; "6'-8' deep at underpass"; "water over dike"; "water 6'-8' deep on Rte 17"; "road washout"; "bridge collapsed from erosion"; "approaches washed out on both sides"; and "5'-6' deep at school".

There are multiple versions of many of the maps. One version has the handwritten heading, "Provisional - Subject to Revision;" these occasionally include brief notes in the margins as well as on the maps. Another version has the printed heading, "Flood of June 1972" and the location; these lack the marginal notes and many of the map annotations but do highlight the location of gaging stations and note the flood elevation at each station.

The series also includes a map produced by the Chemung County Planning Board showing state, county, and town roads, county and town boundaries, and incorporated areas. Color coding in flooded areas indicates commercial, residential, industrial, agricultural, and public or semi-public areas. There are also two separate maps for the towns of Elmira and Big Flats (Chemung County) with flooded areas marked in red.