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Aftermath Photos of Flooded Los Angeles Streets After Heavy Rainfall in 1952

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These photos show the aftermath of heavy rainfall that caused flooding throughout Los Angeles in January 1952. The rain flooded the streets, people drowned, cars were swamped, trucks rescued individuals and shelters put people up with blankets and hot coffee.

Since 1952, the construction of sewers and flood channels throughout the region made winter rains less devastating. Today we worry about the runoff of polluted rainwater into the Pacific Ocean and how it might affect the sea. And we discuss how we might capture rainwater to alleviate drought.

These photographs show how the rain-affected the Valley and Los Angeles.

#1 Cahuenga Pass, Los Angeles, after heavy rain and flood. January 1952.

Cahuenga Pass, Los Angeles, after heavy rain and flood. January 1952.

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#2 Victims of the flood peer thru truck, Van Nuys. 18 January 1952.

Victims of the flood peer thru truck, Van Nuys. 18 January 1952.

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#3 General view of flooded traffic at Van Nuys and Aetna, Van Nuys. 18 January 1952.

General view of flooded traffic at Van Nuys and Aetna, Van Nuys. 18 January 1952.

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#4 Legionnaires helping old woman to truck, 18 January 1952.

Legionnaires helping old woman to truck, 18 January 1952.

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#6 Water flowing through roads, Culver Boulevard. November 1952.

Water flowing through roads, Culver Boulevard. November 1952.

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#10 Kids in life rafts floating along Van Nuys Blvd. 18 January 1952.

Kids in life rafts floating along Van Nuys Blvd. 18 January 1952.

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#11 Looking west on Rodeo to La Brea, Sunland Blvd, Van Nuys. November 1952.

Looking west on Rodeo to La Brea, Sunland Blvd, Van Nuys. November 1952.

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#13 Top of buried car after a landslide at Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. 16 January 1952.

Top of buried car after a landslide at Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. 16 January 1952.

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#14 A man point at the drowned car in Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. 16 January 1952.

A man point at the drowned car in Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. 16 January 1952.

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#15 A street closed sign in Magnolia Blvd in Los Angeles. 16 January 1952.

A street closed sign in Magnolia Blvd in Los Angeles. 16 January 1952.

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#17 Sylvan Street in front of City Hall, Van Nuys. 18 January 1952.

Sylvan Street in front of City Hall, Van Nuys. 18 January 1952.

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#18 A life guard service truck along with boat to rescue the victims, Van Nuys. 18 January 1952.

A life guard service truck along with boat to rescue the victims, Van Nuys. 18 January 1952.

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#19 Detective Danny Shea, looking over body at Van Nuys Receiving Hospital. 18 January 1952.

Detective Danny Shea, looking over body at Van Nuys Receiving Hospital. 18 January 1952.

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#20 A boy holding a snake caught from flood water, Los Angeles. 1952.

A boy holding a snake caught from flood water, Los Angeles. 1952.

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#22 Man helping a shopkeeper by putting a sand bag in front of the store, 1952.

Man helping a shopkeeper by putting a sand bag in front of the store, 1952.

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#23 Water in front of a motel, Culver Boulevard. 15 November 1952.

Water in front of a motel, Culver Boulevard. 15 November 1952.

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#24 Cars near the motel, Culver Boulevard. 15 November 1952.

Cars near the motel, Culver Boulevard. 15 November 1952.

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#25 Cars on the flooded road in Culver Boulevard. 1952.

Cars on the flooded road in Culver Boulevard. 1952.

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#28 People in a boat near a drowned car in Van Nuys. 15 November 1952.

People in a boat near a drowned car in Van Nuys. 15 November 1952.

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#29 A shoe service store owners putting a sheet to protect their shop from flood water. November 1952.

A shoe service store owners putting a sheet to protect their shop from flood water. November 1952.

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#31 Van Nuys Boulevard bridge which sank three feet at south end due to washing away of earth foundation. January 1952.

Van Nuys Boulevard bridge which sank three feet at south end due to washing away of earth foundation. January 1952.

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#32 Landslide at Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. January 1952.

Landslide at Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles. January 1952.

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#33 A large number of people on the bridge, water is flowing beneath the bridge. 15 November 1952.

A large number of people on the bridge, water is flowing beneath the bridge. 15 November 1952.

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#34 A woman looking towards a landslid near her house. November 1952.

A woman looking towards a landslid near her house. November 1952.

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#35 Mrs Agnes Snyder removes debris from car on flooded street, Tyrone Ave. 14 November 1952

Mrs Agnes Snyder removes debris from car on flooded street, Tyrone Ave. 14 November 1952

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#36 Flooded Tyrone Ave, Los Angeles. 14 November 1952.

Flooded Tyrone Ave, Los Angeles. 14 November 1952.

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#37 Police stopping cars at Beverly Glenn Blvd. 15 January 1952.

Police stopping cars at Beverly Glenn Blvd. 15 January 1952.

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#38 Model T Ford at intersection of Van Nuys and Ventura Blvd. 15 January 1952.

Model T Ford at intersection of Van Nuys and Ventura Blvd. 15 January 1952.

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#39 An unidentified woman at intersection of Van Nuys and Ventura Blvd. 15 January 1952.

An unidentified woman at intersection of Van Nuys and Ventura Blvd. 15 January 1952.

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#41 Stalled car half submerged on Ramona Freeway, West of Atlantic Boulevard. 1952.

Stalled car half submerged on Ramona Freeway, West of Atlantic Boulevard. 1952.

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#43 Slauson Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard flooded. 1952

Slauson Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard flooded. 1952

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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