Nightime photograph of a flooded area of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Union Station and the Broadway Bridge are both visible. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of widespread flooding on the Willamette River during the Vanport Flood. Taken from the east side of the river, a large industrial building is surrounded by water. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of flooding at Union Station in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood, 1948. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of people spreading dirt on top of sandbags on the west bank of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon to control flooding during the Vanport Flood. Union Station and the Steel Bridge are visible in the background. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of widespread flooding of the Willamette River at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of a steam locomotive in flood water just outside Union Station in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Widespread flooding is visible in the area around Union Station. A long line of sandbags is visible on the left. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of widespread flooding on the Willamette River during the Vanport Flood. Taken from the east side of the river, there is a submerged railroad in the foreground. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

A photograph of a line of sandbags holding back flood waters in downtown Portland, Oregon. Union Station and the railroad yards are visible submerged in floodwater in the background. Several unidentified men are working to help reinforce the sandbag wall at various point. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 23."

A postcard depicting flooded trains in the railroad yards during the Vanport flood. The Image caption reads, "Flood Waters Railroad Yards, Portland, Ore. Christian V-14."

A postcard of rising flood water around Union Station during the Vanport flood. Several unidentified people working to fill sandbags are visible at the front of the building. A crowd of onlookers observe the flood waters from the railing of the Steel Bridge. The image caption reads, "Flood Waters Union Station " Portland, Ore. Christian V-12."

Photograph of a flooded area of the Willamette River in an industrial area of Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Taken from the east side of the river. There are several ships docked in the Willamette. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of long lines of railroad cars in the flood water of the Vanport Flood. The railroads are underwater. Taken from the east side of the Willamette River, with the west hills of Portland, Oregon visible in the background. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of a flooded area of the Willamette River during the Vanport Flood. In the foreground, a train is surrounded by water as the railroad is flooded. Taken from the east side of the river. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of flooded NW Front Street in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Taken from the Steel Bridge, Union Station and the Broadway Bridge are both visible in the background. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of widespread flooding on the Willamette River during the Vanport Flood. Taken from the east side of the river, several ships can be seen floating in the high water. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

A photograph of a line of sandbags holding back flood waters in downtown Portland, Oregon. Union Station and the railroad yards are visible submerged in floodwater in the background. Several unidentified men are working to help reinforce the sandbag wall at various point. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 25."

A postcard depicting the flood water around Union Station during the Vanport flood. The photograph is taken from a high vantage point and shows the water surrounding union station, the railroad yards, and nearby buildings. The Steel Bridge is also visible in the distance. The image caption reads, "Flood waters " Portland, Ore. Christian V 15."

Photograph of widespread flooding on the Willamette River during the Vanport Flood. Taken from the east side of the river, several ships can be seen floating in the river. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of the Steel Bridge over the flooded water of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. The high water has reached the bottom of the bridge. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of the Hawthorne Bridge over the flooded water of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. The draw bridge is up and a boat passes underneath. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of a train crossing the Steel Bridge over the flooded water of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. The high water touches the bottom of the bridge. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of the Burnside Bridge over the flooded water of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of a swing bridge, possibly the Morrison Bridge, turned on its axis above the high water of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of the Hawthorne Bridge over the flooded water of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

People evacuated from the Vanport City flood, gathered outside the American Red Cross headquarters at S.W. 15th Avenue and S.W. Alder Street in Portland. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 4 of 9).

People using ham radios at the American Red Cross headquarters, at S.W. 15th Avenue and S.W. Alder Street in Portland, during a flooding event in Vanport. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 6 of 9).

An aerial view of dike work being done at Marine Drive and Gertz Road in Portland, near Vanport City. A group of houseboats can be seen at the right side of the frame, likely on the Columbia River at Marine Drive (negative 1 of 2).

Flood evacuees from Vanport at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. People gathered around a table at the front of the frame, while a larger group can be seen standing further back (negative 1 of 6).