A flooded area of the Willamette River flows close to a cluster of buildings, likely a migrant camp, in Independence, Oregon. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on January 14, 1966.

A flooded area of the Willamette River flows close to a cluster of buildings, likely a migrant camp, in Independence, Oregon. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on January 14, 1966.

Water floods an orchard in Independence, Oregon. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on January 14, 1966.

A flooded area of the Willamette River flows close to a cluster of buildings, likely a migrant camp, in Independence, Oregon. Branches, logs, and other debris float in the water. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on January 14, 1966.

Rows of crops are saturated with water on a farm in Independence, Oregon. Taken during a flood of the nearby Willamette River. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on January 14, 1966.

Photograph showing damage to a fenced area due to the 1964 Christmas Flood (likely in the Clackamas River area). An man-made canal can be seen on the right side of the frame, with damaged fencing running along the river to the left. Much of the fencing appears to have fallen downhill towards the rapidly moving river. In the foreground, two men in long jackets face away from the camera. (Image note: see related image PGE 64-606-8.2).

Photograph showing damage to a hillside, fence, and canal. At the left side of the frame is a rapidly flowing river (likely the Clackamas River), with a deteriorated hillside on its banks.

Photograph showing a spillway structure during the 1964 Christmas flood (taken December of 1964). Water can be seen rapidly spilling down the structure, with a small building visible at the far side of the river. High water levels can be seen upriver, in addition to forested hillsides and trees.

Photograph showing a heavily damaged wooden flume structure at an unidentified location (likely on the Clackamas River). Large stones can be seen in the deteriorated hillside under the flume, due to a landslide. Other wood can be seen in the foreground, likely a continuation of the damaged flume.

Photograph of a helicopter flying over flooding on the Columbia River near The Dalles. Same flooding that caused the Vanport Flood down river. In the background, a flooded building is completely surrounded by water in the Columbia River. In the foreground, railroad tracks disappear underwater. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken by someone named "Dixon" for the PM Advanced Portrait class. Likely a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

An envelope containing commemorative photographs taken during the Vanport flood in 1948. The envelope is white with red lettering that reads, "10 Selected Snapshots 50C. Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River. May 30, 1948." Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River.

Delores Skovgaard sorting through personal items after residents were allowed back into Vanport, Oregon following the Vanport flood. The caption on the photograph reads, “My sister Dee helping.”

A view of damaged apartment buildings in Vanport, Oregon after the water receded from the Vanport flood. The caption on the photograph reads, “Slough in background. No more bridge from Victory Avenue across Bayou Slough to Island Avenue.”

Unidentified people climbing over piles of debris left behind after the flood waters retreated during the Vanport flood. Several apartment buildings lifted from their foundations by the flood waters are visible in the wreckage.

A view of damaged apartment buildings in Vanport, Oregon after the water receded from the Vanport flood. The caption on the photograph reads, “Our apartment house.”

Agnes Skovgaard sorting through personal items after residents were allowed back into Vanport, Oregon following the Vanport flood. Caption on the image reads, “My mother sorting through personal items after the flood to see if anything was worth saving. Very little.”

Agnes and Delores Skovgaard standing behind a picket fence in front of their apartment in Vanport, Oregon. They are sorting through personal items after residents were allowed back into Vanport following the Vanport flood. The caption on the photograph reads, “My Mother, Netta and Sister, Delores, trying to sort out any savable items from apartment.”

A photograph of an unidentified woman sitting on the rooftop of a flooded apartment building during the Vanport flood. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 8."

A photograph of an unidentified group of police officers and Vanport residents Walking across a broken bridge and searching through debris left by the Vanport flood.

A photograph of an unidentified group of police officers and Vanport residents standing near debris left by the Vanport flood.

A photograph of the field of debris left after the Vanport flood.

A photograph of a large crowd of people shoveling sand into sandbags during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters during the Vanport flood. Several rowboats are tied at the edge of the water.