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25 years ago
The collapse of the Teton Dam in southeastern Idaho on June 5, 1976, devastated communities along the Upper Snake River Valley.
Much of the June 12, 1976, issue of the Church News was devoted to reports of the flood's affect on members of the Church in their service to each other. It also reported on offers of assistance that poured in from other areas of the Church.
"Forty thousand persons, more than 90 percent of them Church members, were driven from their homes," one article stated. It continued, "A wall of water varying from 12 to 20 feet high narrowly missed the communities of Teton and Newdale, but slammed with full force into Sugar City, Salem and Hibbard, destroying more than 50 percent of the homes and damaging all structures in those rural towns. St. Anthony, Roberts and other communities were also flooded."
The flooding also struck Rexburg hard, but missed Ricks College.
Subsequent issues of the Church News followed up on the story, reporting on a visit by President Spencer W. Kimball and widespread support by Church members helping fellow members recover from the disaster.
