Angeles National Forest near Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Night of the Disaster

Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial and National Monument

— Tirelessly Getting the Word Out —

Night of the Disaster image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 1, 2025

1. Night of the Disaster

Inscription.

Night of the Disaster. Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial and National Monument. , Hello Girls , Telephone operators such as Louise Gipe in Santa Paula and Reicel Jones in Saticoy - subsequently nicknamed the "Hello Girls" - bravely stayed at their posts after being notified of the flood headed their way. They did what they could by systematically calling residents in low-lying areas to urge them to flee to higher ground. Gipe was the one to notify Thornton Edwards, the California Highway Patrol officer who played a big part in warning Santa Paula residents of the tremendous wall of water that was ravaging the valley. , , Paul Revere of the Flood , California Highway Patrol officers Thornton Edwards and Stanley Baker used their motorcycles to awaken and warm residents by leaving their sirens running and crisscrossing the streets in the danger zone ahead of the flood. They rode for more than an hour through the low-lying areas of Santa Paula until the wall of water swept through Santa Paula. Their heroic efforts saved hundreds of lives. Thornton Edwards would be remembered as the Paul Revere of the St. Francis Flood for his courageous ride. , , 12 MPH · The average speed of the flood. , 54 Miles · The distance it travelled to the ocean. , 5 Hours and 27 Minutes · The time it took to reach the ocean. , , March 12, 1928 , 10:30 AM · Tony Harnischfeger performs his daily inspection and finds muddy water pouring from the west side of the dam. , 10:30 AM · Mulholland and Harvey Van Norman, the assistant engineer of Water Works and Supply, are notified. They rush to the dam to inspect the leak and conclude that it poses no threat. , 11:50 PM · Ace Hopewell rides past the dam on his motorcycle, probably the last person to see the dam intact. , 11:57 PM · The dam fails. , 11:58 PM · Harnischfeger and his family are believed to be the first casualties. , March 13, 1928 , 12:03 AM · Water crushes Power Plant #2 , 1:30 AM · The "Hello Girls" receive a message saying that the dam has failed. , 2:30AM · Mulholland and Van Norman arrive at the scene. , 5:30 AM · The flood reaches the ocean.

Hello Girls
Telephone operators such as Louise Gipe in Santa Paula and Reicel Jones in Saticoy - subsequently nicknamed the "Hello Girls" - bravely stayed at their posts after being notified of the flood headed their way. They did what they could by systematically calling residents in low-lying areas to urge them to flee to higher ground. Gipe was the one to notify Thornton Edwards, the California Highway Patrol officer who played a big part in warning Santa Paula residents of the tremendous wall of water that was ravaging the valley.

Paul Revere of the Flood
California Highway Patrol officers Thornton Edwards and Stanley Baker used their motorcycles to awaken and warm residents by leaving their sirens running and crisscrossing the streets in the danger zone ahead of the flood. They rode for more than an hour through the low-lying areas of Santa Paula until the wall of water swept through Santa Paula. Their heroic efforts saved hundreds of lives. Thornton Edwards would be remembered as the Paul Revere of the St. Francis Flood for his courageous ride.

12 MPH · The average speed of the flood.
54 Miles · The distance it travelled to the ocean.
5 Hours & 27 Minutes · The time it took to reach the ocean.

March

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12, 1928
10:30 AM · Tony Harnischfeger performs his daily inspection and finds muddy water pouring from the west side of the dam.
10:30 AM · Mulholland and Harvey Van Norman, the assistant engineer of Water Works and Supply, are notified. They rush to the dam to inspect the leak and conclude that it poses no threat.
11:50 PM · Ace Hopewell rides past the dam on his motorcycle, probably the last person to see the dam intact.
11:57 PM · The dam fails.
11:58 PM · Harnischfeger and his family are believed to be the first casualties.
March 13, 1928
12:03 AM · Water crushes Power Plant #2
1:30 AM · The "Hello Girls" receive a message saying that the dam has failed.
2:30AM · Mulholland and Van Norman arrive at the scene.
5:30 AM · The flood reaches the ocean.

Erected by U.S. Forest Service, Student Conservation Association, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Natural Resources. A significant historical date for this entry is March 12, 1928.

Location. 34° 32.824′ N, 118° 30.867′ W. Marker is near Santa Clarita, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Angeles National

Night of the Disaster marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 1, 2025

2. Night of the Disaster marker

Saint Francis Dam ruins in the background.

Forest. It can be reached from San Francisquito Canyon Road just north of San Francisquito Motorway, on the right when traveling north. Walk ¼-mile south along the abandoned roadway to the dam site. The trail to the markers is 0.2-mile past the dam site, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 35618 San Francisquito Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita CA 91390, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Aftermath (here, next to this marker); Geology of the Canyon (here, next to this marker); Construction of the Dam (here, next to this marker); The Lives That Were Lost (here, next to this marker); William Mulholland (a few steps from this marker); Water Wars (a few steps from this marker); Before the Dam (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named St. Francis Dam Disaster Site (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Clarita.

Another marker is no longer nearby. St. Francis Dam Disaster Site (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. - Saint Francis Dam Disaster sites.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 1, 2025

3. Night of the Disaster marker

One of eight interpretive signs here.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 81 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 2, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.