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Babies were torn from mothers' arms. Landslides wiped out families and homes. At least 50 people died. This was the impact of the great flood of 1916 when two hurricanes collided over western North Carolina.

Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort will recall the catastrophe, which happened 100 years ago this summer, with the "So Great the Devastation: The 1916 Flood" exhibit, opening Sunday, May 1. The free traveling exhibit consists of four interpretive panels and an interactive touch screen. It will run through Tuesday, May 31 before moving to Asheville.

The great flood of 1916 is still probably the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of western North Carolina.

Historic rainfall to the area in mid-July 1916 washed away thousands of jobs as rivers flooded. The huge amount of rain occurred because of two hurricanes that converged over the mountains of North Carolina.

Damages totaled in the millions of dollars and a thick, black sludge remained where crops once stood. The town of Old Fort suffered minor damage, but the roads and railroads were impacted greatly. The railroad yard in Asheville was completely flooded and even steam locomotives were washed away by the flood waters. The North Cove community was also hard hit and many people in the mountains lost their homes.