Guide Note

On July 1, 2007, after two weeks of heavy rains, the Verdigris River overflowed and destroyed 300 homes in the town of Coffeyville, Kansas. The flooding also triggered an oil spill at the Coffeyville Resources oil refinery.

Fast Facts

1. 300 homes destroyed
2. 101-year-old Coffeyville refinery produced 100,000 barrels a day
3. July 2: President Bush declares Coffeyville a "major disaster"
4. 42,000 gallons of crude oil slipped into Verdigris River
5. Oil cleanup costs: $7-10 million
6. Damage to homes cost $25-30 million
7. Coffeyville Resources is owned by Goldman Sachs

As a result of the flooding, the 101-year-old Coffeyville refinery poured over 40,000 gallons of oil into the flood waters. The refinery, owned by Goldman Sachs, required $81 million in repairs after the flood.¹