By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

May 22, 1951, was a deadly day in Hays.

Heavy early morning rains 63 years ago today produced one of the worst flood disasters in Hays, according to records from the National Weather Service in Dodge City.

Six people were killed.

Fort Hays Kansas State College was flooded as well as the southern part of Hays when Big Creek erupted from its banks.  There is now a 1.8 mile levee between Big Creek and the campus, according to records at FHSU Forsyth Library.

Heavy rains had fallen earlier in the month and contributed to the May 22 flooding.

The rainfall amount for May and June, 1951, was 20.42 inches as recorded at the K-State University Agricultural Research Center just south of Hays.  

It was a record wet year for Hays with 43.34 inches of precipitation recorded in 1951.