1955 Yuba–Sutter floods
A destroyed home in Yuba City following the floods | |
| Date | December 16–25, 1955 |
|---|---|
| Location | North and Central California |
| Cause | Levee failure and heavy rain |
| Deaths | 74 deaths, >4,325 injuries |
| Property damage | >$150 million (1955 USD) |
From December 16 to 25, 1955, devastating flooding struck portions of California. It was caused by heavy rainfall and a levee break on the Feather River, and directly resulted in the deaths of 74 people, leaving damages of an estimated $150 million (1955 USD), one of the costliest floods ever recorded in California. The floods are commonly known as the Yuba–Sutter floods as there was extensive damage in Yuba and Sutter counties.
The floods were described as "the worst in the history of northern California"; thousands of people were forced to evacuate. They have been compared to those of 1986 and 1997. Recovery and rescue efforts were widespread with over 2,000 volunteers working to help repair leaking levees and helicopters transporting residents away from flooded areas, notably Yuba City.