Johnstown Flood: The Day the Dam Burst

This series examines the terrible effects of American Disasters in a high-interest, exciting style geared toward capturing the reluctant reader. Each book explains the basic scientific principles behind the disaster and includes personal accounts of the survivors, putting the reader in the center of the action. Each indexed book contains full-color photographs, chapter notes, a further reading list, and a list of interesting and relevant Web Sites.One of the worst peacetime disasters in the history of the United States took place in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on May 31, 1889. On that day, when South Fork Dam failed, a wall of water plunged down the narrow valley of the Little Conemaugh River. This flooding water crushed houses like eggshells, threw railroad cars from their tracks, and tore trees from the earth. The flood destroyed Johnstown, leaving 1,600 houses and 260 businesses demolished in its wake. Mud, shattered buildings, and bodies lay where streets and homes had stood the day before. At least 2,209 people lost their lives. In Johnstown Flood: The Day the Dam Burst, author Mary Gow uses firsthand accounts and quotes from survivors to recapture the events of this terrible day. Also examined are subsequent floods that struck Johnstown.