the flood in kansas started in may. it started with the flood of the big creek, (a tributary of the smoky hill river) in hays. it flooded after eleven inches of rain in two hours. the creek overflowed. it flooded hays (where fort hays state university is) in four feet of water. it flooded the fort hays state university campus. it caused people to move from the barracks (by families of the g.i. bill) and dorms to the stadium's third floor. the stadium's third floor was still dry. dr. charles f. wiest, emeritus professor of philosophy and religion, and his seven-year-old daughter died. they died when their home caved in with the weight of the water. he was saving important documents in his basement. all records at the college were ruined. no graduation was held on the appointed date of may 23. graduates were mailed their diplomas a month later.