Keystone hears former Rapid mayor speak on 1972 flood

REMEMBERING THE 1972 FLOOD – Former Rapid City Mayor Don Barnett discusses with Phil Lervaag the terror people experienced when a flash flood of major proportions hit Rapid City and parts of the Black Hills, including Keystone in 1972.. It is said that 234 people lost their lives when heavy rains caused a dam to give way, sending torrents of water throughout the city, sweeping human bodies and debris as far away as the Cheyenne River. Barnett said recalling the 40th anniversary of the flood is important to preserving the area’s history, as “only 30 percent of the people now living in Rapid City were living here at the time of the flood.” [PN Photo/ BEV PECHAN]

By Bev Pechan

It was a small but interested group of persons who showed up last Wednesday for an informational meeting regarding a memorial observance for the 40th anniversary of the Rapid City flood of June 9, 1972, which also destroyed a large section of Keystone homes and businesses.
Keystone Town Board President David Cofoid called the meeting to order and briefly stated that the city had called the meeting to get public input for ways that Keystone could commemorate the event that affected the entire town. There was little response initially, but comments began to be exchanged after former Rapid City Mayor Don Barnett related some of his experiences as a 29-year-old newly-elected official when the deluge hit.
Barnett, who was in the Black Hills to attend a Rapid City meeting on the upcoming flood anniversary earlier in the day, told Keystone’s finance officer Vanessa Row that he would also like to be present at the Keystone meeting to help provide input. Barnett currently runs a consulting business in the Denver area and serves on the committee for the Rapid City series of events.
Keystone had, just a few weeks before the “flood of the century” occurred, voted to become a municipality, Row said. Because of this, even though they were not yet incorporated at the time, federal help was available to help the town rebuild.
Discussion followed about the number of deaths that had taken place in Keystone during that time, with several persons stating that the loss from the Keystone area was more than the nine officially listed. “It is between 11 and 15,” Cofoid suggested, adding that all were tourists.
Historian and geologist Ellen Bishop, Rapid City, stated that she was under the impression that there were some from the Keystone area lost as well, but that they may have been counted with the Rapid City totals, since some bodies were swept a great distance. At least one was a resident, she said.
Barnett invited Keystone to be active participants in the event Rapid City is planning for June 8 - 10, which will take place at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Large displays will be set up, by groups and individuals relating in some way to the events of that weekend four decades ago. There is no charge for this. The Journey Museum is planning its own display and programming as an ongoing addition to the permanent 1972 Flood exhibit which was begun several years ago.
Cofoid agreed that Keystone should take advantage of being a part of that remembrance, but added that he was interested in something of permanence in Keystone as well after former resident Pam Knapp contacted the city about creating a flood-related project. Volunteers for a committee were asked for at the meeting. Those indicating interest were Knapp — who was named chairman, Row, Sandi McLain, Patty Cofoid and Bev Pechan.
Row announced that there would be a meeting of the flood commemoration committee on Monday, Feb. 20, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Keystone Community Center. All are welcome to attend with their ideas and input.