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 photograph of several unidentified people climbing through debris left by the Vanport flood. In the distance, people are visible standing on the roofs of flooded apartment buildings lifted from their foundations by the water. 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. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

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.

A photograph of three unidentified men in a rowboat among the flooded apartment buildings during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of unidentified people walking through debris left behind after the Vanport flood. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 10."

A photograph of unidentified people viewing the damage caused by the Vanport flood. Several people are visible standing on the rooftops of flooded buildings and three unidentified men are attempting to navigate a rowboat through the debris. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 21."

A photograph of an unidentified woman sitting on the rooftop of a flooded apartment building during the Vanport flood. Three unidentified people look on in the foreground. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 22."

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."

Herman Skovgaard outside his apartment in Vanport, Oregon. He is dressed in overalls with a hard hat and metal lunch box and is preparing to leave for work at the Swan Island Shipyards.

Cars lined up at the gas station on the corner of Lake Avenue and Victory Avenue in Vanport, Oregon.

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.”

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood. Several apartment buildings that were lifted from their foundations by the water are visible among other debris in the lower left corner of the image. 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. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

An aerial photograph of damage to Jantzen Beach Amusement Park during the Vanport flood. 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. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

A photograph depicting damage done by the Vanport flood. Several unidentified people walk across rooftops and piled debris left after flood waters lifted buildings from their foundations. 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. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood. The interstate bridge and a railroad bridge are visible in the distance. 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. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

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 photograph of an unidentified group of people viewing the damage caused by the Vanport flood. In the distance people in boats and on rooftops are visible in the flood water. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 15."

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of flooded industrial buildings 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 2."

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters 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 33. "